tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57187563702979785652024-03-19T03:36:01.364-07:00Poulsen's by the Great LakesKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-58920594658631555822012-01-05T18:44:00.000-08:002012-01-05T21:23:07.615-08:00BittersweetNot wanting to really commit that our mission here in Michigan would soon come to a close, we hesitated talking about the date we would actually be leaving. In fact, I think this is the first time I have mentioned it our blog although we have known for some time that we would be leaving at the end of the semester. Time never does stand still and on December 10, 2011, by way of speaker phone, President Ron Dillender officially and honorably released us from our mission. Although we longed to see our family and home, it was a sad morning as we did our final packing, took one last walk through the institute, said good-bye to dear friends, took a last look at our cozy apartment, and drove one last time down Grand River Avenue to the freeway heading west. I cried all the way down Grand River Avenue. We were excited to be going home, but sad to be leaving so many dear friends and a place we had grown to love. Michigan really is a beautiful state full of wonderful, kind, generous people, not to mention the tasty ice cream. There was lots to love about our mission and we will cherish the memories we shared there forever.<br /><br />I went on this mission in order to be of service and to teach others, but I have been the one who has been served and taught. I have been so blessed to increase my knowledge and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through preparation and studying the scriptures more than I ever have in my life. Also the young people, including the elders and sisters, and others in Michigan have taught me so much by their amazing example of true charity.<br />My testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has grown and I have never loved nor learned more about the Book of Mormon than I have in the last year and a half. Every word of it is true and the messages contained in this book offer such hope to the world. In it's pages are inspiring stories of families and people who really share the same problems and concerns that we have today. Its words can help us learn how to best navigate through the trails and tribulations of life. Its message is one of hope for the future. However the greatest message of all is that it is another testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Throughout its pages, it testifies of Him and His atoning sacrifice. We can learn that the Atonement does not only work for our sins, but also for our shortcomings, our weaknesses, our imperfections, and our infirmities. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon with all my heart and testify of its truthfulness.<br /><br />“Yea come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ……<br />“And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” (Moroni 10:32–33).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0ABeqpwvT542nEx7tZ2kokkkJbjb171ajtNHp9ksTmD0umTJWyqIdUsFlFNL6qrD-AT00W5txaHuaJgaE6QLYcL00VRNNMJ1oUEY6VDov8T2UfVeyODzpVcdJPnYoH7Lg0f2YzHvZC0/s1600/20111208+MSU+Gardens+4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694360569890893266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0ABeqpwvT542nEx7tZ2kokkkJbjb171ajtNHp9ksTmD0umTJWyqIdUsFlFNL6qrD-AT00W5txaHuaJgaE6QLYcL00VRNNMJ1oUEY6VDov8T2UfVeyODzpVcdJPnYoH7Lg0f2YzHvZC0/s400/20111208+MSU+Gardens+4.JPG" /></a> Winter has definitely arrived at our favorite garden and it illustrates our sadness in leaving Michigan. On our morning walks we loved to watch this ever changing garden blossom during the early spring and throughout the summer and fall. It seemed that it never looked exactly the same. I will think of this lovely garden next spring and know that will fully bloom just as I know the wonderful young people of Michigan will continue to bloom.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCItWfz-NzI4A5uyyYjJm2xDAKowdTu7nt8dT_fOXjtP81UuuimTTfOq5mvOP1UyUo5VxIPP0gFfFssP4c5HP6Dmhz70KVa2K0YFs91868fEmisXnq2sMJsxlLPv8ArdL99NehuQJuQi4/s1600/20111208+MSU+Gardens+5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694360145284094722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCItWfz-NzI4A5uyyYjJm2xDAKowdTu7nt8dT_fOXjtP81UuuimTTfOq5mvOP1UyUo5VxIPP0gFfFssP4c5HP6Dmhz70KVa2K0YFs91868fEmisXnq2sMJsxlLPv8ArdL99NehuQJuQi4/s400/20111208+MSU+Gardens+5.JPG" /></a> Our favorite gardens on MSU campus look so sad.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMZnBP1qdyrtieofVa5zk3LK_MaREthsLWDY_c-heYKqIiWp2QcrP_69BfWoSpVcHuiAGbnn9-1_HZxRpley8uiEIcAVn_4fnZM2V5BeEm8IQw_s6d5rdZtQUXEBY-CBQVqfMOEhHrqo/s1600/20111207+District+Picture+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694359591236336386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMZnBP1qdyrtieofVa5zk3LK_MaREthsLWDY_c-heYKqIiWp2QcrP_69BfWoSpVcHuiAGbnn9-1_HZxRpley8uiEIcAVn_4fnZM2V5BeEm8IQw_s6d5rdZtQUXEBY-CBQVqfMOEhHrqo/s400/20111207+District+Picture+001.JPG" /></a> Our last district<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wP4Grf-Ukv-wgnKokzAZgpMjWdNCf6PSh8L9is0BGCzNy2SUVr-I8HUE-x095dMkcAT03krvz5Ckd3ewDQa830WvjaEuieeBEbuGRvFYnkNoLz6JpRgKQwx1hRnhlkxfQGtbanbiVGw/s1600/20111210+End+of+MIssion+and+Travel+Home+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694359071949798690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wP4Grf-Ukv-wgnKokzAZgpMjWdNCf6PSh8L9is0BGCzNy2SUVr-I8HUE-x095dMkcAT03krvz5Ckd3ewDQa830WvjaEuieeBEbuGRvFYnkNoLz6JpRgKQwx1hRnhlkxfQGtbanbiVGw/s400/20111210+End+of+MIssion+and+Travel+Home+002.JPG" /></a> The corn is harvested as late as possible.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3NGcHNuy0m11kkHkLUvCc6iVMwQb0VxjTvYH3VQB3Hl7cNCeYGU278vLRxDC2Qb6NAtADfW2WQEl3F6nI0feSX0r6_SkerJ52PxHlrY-YEKYdFwEBouVKuUwsJ5jvBY4N0qXqJKJLTs/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694357460235760034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3NGcHNuy0m11kkHkLUvCc6iVMwQb0VxjTvYH3VQB3Hl7cNCeYGU278vLRxDC2Qb6NAtADfW2WQEl3F6nI0feSX0r6_SkerJ52PxHlrY-YEKYdFwEBouVKuUwsJ5jvBY4N0qXqJKJLTs/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+006.JPG" /></a> The last Friday Forum lunch for the semester.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrHZ8m2mN_Lv-kaN_VzZJ9xGzJRfiKAAq5ENlaAWQvWvtMIzOCFFqNItXOsPJFTgs9i4IhJ3I9sVsWIsdZebt0QaoEUEPoFoJNJQ50YAbKCkQRrvs6EpVe55mNmB80TTK8IBnfu0Hgu4/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694357161192701122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrHZ8m2mN_Lv-kaN_VzZJ9xGzJRfiKAAq5ENlaAWQvWvtMIzOCFFqNItXOsPJFTgs9i4IhJ3I9sVsWIsdZebt0QaoEUEPoFoJNJQ50YAbKCkQRrvs6EpVe55mNmB80TTK8IBnfu0Hgu4/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+007.JPG" /></a> I was so proud how this Christmas salad looked.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1XSgsbNgzgs5nHueZlbK7Qem8XoE56lzeXqFl8F3AHxyxqw2u9_4RIRH2s2EtkdGM0KHWI1yhg9tCn1dBDE0GHUsvlkUsGRcxuoB10cvYa0dhxKKxRN4XTu63WxVnVtcapBZEB8VT8E/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694356122013256562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1XSgsbNgzgs5nHueZlbK7Qem8XoE56lzeXqFl8F3AHxyxqw2u9_4RIRH2s2EtkdGM0KHWI1yhg9tCn1dBDE0GHUsvlkUsGRcxuoB10cvYa0dhxKKxRN4XTu63WxVnVtcapBZEB8VT8E/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+010.JPG" /></a> Dear sweet Marcia who kept the institute so clean for all of us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQO0DDZI13fCVn0CoxNWP_29VAAwXHLoXvUWbIZRYWvUcttnSTnZRd3Kd8eyaDVcMPgneEK9TUHfwLRJBPAR_51tawUlyHncMWii2uqkB9MGPqc6qQhNR_GG7J9nAOnwB5yMkP3h4454/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694355784211150594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQO0DDZI13fCVn0CoxNWP_29VAAwXHLoXvUWbIZRYWvUcttnSTnZRd3Kd8eyaDVcMPgneEK9TUHfwLRJBPAR_51tawUlyHncMWii2uqkB9MGPqc6qQhNR_GG7J9nAOnwB5yMkP3h4454/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+011.JPG" /></a> Sister Keys and Sister Topchiyska<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNUpw7zF5vPX9BnRJ7DxxVz0Kj2PjZ2xpnsMskRvZJMM3RmKjCjsdJI2PwZwuJuMmi3DjD6gyK9VIMxR-XNM_Ftdyp5wM7rvBHHsYj-5Jg-hOb0ctm7UQhC576vXulWjIe6Axf833EH4/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694355546578096306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNUpw7zF5vPX9BnRJ7DxxVz0Kj2PjZ2xpnsMskRvZJMM3RmKjCjsdJI2PwZwuJuMmi3DjD6gyK9VIMxR-XNM_Ftdyp5wM7rvBHHsYj-5Jg-hOb0ctm7UQhC576vXulWjIe6Axf833EH4/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+012.JPG" /></a> Abby and Daniel<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1x5uqHqO2DWt1ircWHVaoMxNtCpbz7LEMX9FTL8j-6r9TJhs0i1B_r1OhKd2f4LWJyzQNHH_VlaMPKfPWEr7iJwgnCzZW9DErnMieFOqxwBQ4M_aTbnLtZCrbZ24V-veX1W5BjBm2Ng/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694355028248524658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1x5uqHqO2DWt1ircWHVaoMxNtCpbz7LEMX9FTL8j-6r9TJhs0i1B_r1OhKd2f4LWJyzQNHH_VlaMPKfPWEr7iJwgnCzZW9DErnMieFOqxwBQ4M_aTbnLtZCrbZ24V-veX1W5BjBm2Ng/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+013.JPG" /></a> Jonathan and Alisha who are married now.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb3exuCua3aXHnHUz-GY9BS5DtGqUFNXpD6hjjtAyAPGyba548MFEv3XB0n7JsbAu0Z0amCCG1udVqRKLC2p9Hr6eH3lAudtSP08gP-8YK7SV0CVwk-HhLcm-EANo6RvG1aFgGdAfxuI/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694354446909176514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb3exuCua3aXHnHUz-GY9BS5DtGqUFNXpD6hjjtAyAPGyba548MFEv3XB0n7JsbAu0Z0amCCG1udVqRKLC2p9Hr6eH3lAudtSP08gP-8YK7SV0CVwk-HhLcm-EANo6RvG1aFgGdAfxuI/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+015.JPG" /></a> Kim and Michelle<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTf4Lu6L6D8hUNZcMO-D_feWVJ-1WvTzPePx5JpmoAskORn9BWe5MZTXUNzBGA2YJteti6_Ni_XuQk1WR5yNMJlO08ZqajKppl2dWRwNzgQxKLCNvvk7TGH7wP1WKaQgxhlgnAzkAMrg/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694354111753530178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTf4Lu6L6D8hUNZcMO-D_feWVJ-1WvTzPePx5JpmoAskORn9BWe5MZTXUNzBGA2YJteti6_Ni_XuQk1WR5yNMJlO08ZqajKppl2dWRwNzgQxKLCNvvk7TGH7wP1WKaQgxhlgnAzkAMrg/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+016.JPG" /></a> Cody who always brought us ice cream and who is married now.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7B3PJAYQSuZr8Y5uS-ruB_V-iVlobeUNi1Q4iyn66IVGVNRlMGDX42DVvzX31pOToX0aqCLT93BAKO-uxvwMZuJ8SJzVI64gpfTX8f7suopVjs732qexmhacD77HGKKs-NGErQTO3oo/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694351884996117922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7B3PJAYQSuZr8Y5uS-ruB_V-iVlobeUNi1Q4iyn66IVGVNRlMGDX42DVvzX31pOToX0aqCLT93BAKO-uxvwMZuJ8SJzVI64gpfTX8f7suopVjs732qexmhacD77HGKKs-NGErQTO3oo/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+021.JPG" /></a> Jenny enjoying one of my sugar cookies.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHvZIx_hQ81bQrYygdLE1vh3iTDQdRy3uZ69Cp8pUj7i5ghyphenhyphenJCIaBxKSfa04FVddi6MS1ozBGL3znylm3AUTAwAOzSMnrBnIS3_PuEvB1D8A59IHRXlRtMrtosqlAKPYXV1ahRWTsuYo/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694351464169254962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHvZIx_hQ81bQrYygdLE1vh3iTDQdRy3uZ69Cp8pUj7i5ghyphenhyphenJCIaBxKSfa04FVddi6MS1ozBGL3znylm3AUTAwAOzSMnrBnIS3_PuEvB1D8A59IHRXlRtMrtosqlAKPYXV1ahRWTsuYo/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+017.JPG" /></a> Sister Bogar and Sister Jensen<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1f9LoXEEkWbbIps7CrDn3tdYtiARbDlPhA3nnml4DmeUmpFE7XC7crJ2Mam6RuRLTdr9L6-vUwLt-qYb8gcbrUGla-HalPo81_c0jC72HdV59Na5yBWo-JxtNRPzmw1YmP4PKXeX2hk/s1600/20111209+Friday+Forum+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694351089635836066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1f9LoXEEkWbbIps7CrDn3tdYtiARbDlPhA3nnml4DmeUmpFE7XC7crJ2Mam6RuRLTdr9L6-vUwLt-qYb8gcbrUGla-HalPo81_c0jC72HdV59Na5yBWo-JxtNRPzmw1YmP4PKXeX2hk/s400/20111209+Friday+Forum+023.JPG" /></a> Amy<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4oicWamOAJwtGTc8dWNr7k1AwwrgPLQLinvSKW8maa8uzI2-xb_bEEb8A9N-0OSivvVQ_G4KqRQdhJNJkkXAxTS_YJJ6Wzs6ifQAs4sy1CfbQRUk96hewDHGjMEYStOGcXdLvk97bhk/s1600/20111220+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694350349601726962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4oicWamOAJwtGTc8dWNr7k1AwwrgPLQLinvSKW8maa8uzI2-xb_bEEb8A9N-0OSivvVQ_G4KqRQdhJNJkkXAxTS_YJJ6Wzs6ifQAs4sy1CfbQRUk96hewDHGjMEYStOGcXdLvk97bhk/s400/20111220+005.JPG" /></a> We spent our last night in Michigan at Benton Harbor.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQuvLBc1MpeczxNB6eF5PdKfTRdrOjy39qy7YYMWXYAY3Dfxa-78K5wZOduitZUXP9uyRIWWdMZjHzzNgSlRUu_Ze3MUyWOsXhMhP-hdpQZ-HDiGZ1c2xta_X5Q0k44KdWcqs0OOvk2k/s1600/20111220+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694349938294627714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQuvLBc1MpeczxNB6eF5PdKfTRdrOjy39qy7YYMWXYAY3Dfxa-78K5wZOduitZUXP9uyRIWWdMZjHzzNgSlRUu_Ze3MUyWOsXhMhP-hdpQZ-HDiGZ1c2xta_X5Q0k44KdWcqs0OOvk2k/s400/20111220+012.JPG" /></a> Missouri River, Davenport, Iowa<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIxX7GT2tYJOGrQvpTGglKB8wYM4xoChQt-fiPaLQ_kOBhIgQNWzV1Jt3HgQOEwyU25ecsoljryG0I3DplEhWIzcJTu0M0h8NgIbMLE6Jwc0XN3ljX2-lGirgmsBGu15CqoXfvgJRrIs/s1600/20111220+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694349392368098866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIxX7GT2tYJOGrQvpTGglKB8wYM4xoChQt-fiPaLQ_kOBhIgQNWzV1Jt3HgQOEwyU25ecsoljryG0I3DplEhWIzcJTu0M0h8NgIbMLE6Jwc0XN3ljX2-lGirgmsBGu15CqoXfvgJRrIs/s400/20111220+010.JPG" /></a> Crossing the Missouri River at Davenport,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPnSbpPsVuuc1xiIknyZuk9uG1OTVFySxFNlohPg6wWbwZCJvUZ_NF-4SVSSxIyuiT4k45_jSy2SOKVI3WS-efmzHtRBPshB6kW-MBoDnrJf2wpntpUblP9OGQaja7h8zCkB_SBmBV8c/s1600/20111220+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694348479620386178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPnSbpPsVuuc1xiIknyZuk9uG1OTVFySxFNlohPg6wWbwZCJvUZ_NF-4SVSSxIyuiT4k45_jSy2SOKVI3WS-efmzHtRBPshB6kW-MBoDnrJf2wpntpUblP9OGQaja7h8zCkB_SBmBV8c/s400/20111220+016.JPG" /></a> We had a great visit with Karen and Jim as we spent the night in their home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Although it was super cold, the roads were dry and the sky blue all across Wyoming.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgZ77GdQ8oTHPaBcqDzmML0VT4Pmt_M6VoKE4-JsfD0Rjs13LjWOLVzG3gVQWKT_qVLDhIHzPnEej_mnxQWo6ivA37CHRsWeo4c1aSDvqk0CKFt5a02Qp94Yfrq2_l_8ZqLG601HpRCc/s1600/20111220+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694347635829958610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgZ77GdQ8oTHPaBcqDzmML0VT4Pmt_M6VoKE4-JsfD0Rjs13LjWOLVzG3gVQWKT_qVLDhIHzPnEej_mnxQWo6ivA37CHRsWeo4c1aSDvqk0CKFt5a02Qp94Yfrq2_l_8ZqLG601HpRCc/s400/20111220+017.JPG" /></a> We spent a night and had a wonderful visit with Jim and Lynnette in their home in Santa Clara, Utah, near St. George. It is getting warmer as we go south and west.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOPvHHqi7JdbCpl8-fVqsTY5I6B8Q21fZ2bLOvj1vMFT-DWxMBIkQYUyIQVqzeFGcCAzKtAtCUDx8UKRfx_hj4omuEbt8Mk4JWjpLTT6G5yignTYbpRmjKxZ-aeiHaKpHEFGi30gthoA/s1600/St+George+Temple.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694345836059059874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOPvHHqi7JdbCpl8-fVqsTY5I6B8Q21fZ2bLOvj1vMFT-DWxMBIkQYUyIQVqzeFGcCAzKtAtCUDx8UKRfx_hj4omuEbt8Mk4JWjpLTT6G5yignTYbpRmjKxZ-aeiHaKpHEFGi30gthoA/s400/St+George+Temple.JPG" /></a> Visiting the beautiful St. George Temple with Jim and Lynnette on our way home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2thiVI6dQBQj6y59yafk7mov-kmnsyzTmvBscvXhOU2IDU5pULSgVp9R5EQMVmpP1_k-kfpPnVOf8sU8U2IJkuGzD_H2ktCXPl9GOIsqtgz8931kHC-HHnhyphenhyphenUXB8QiLY9chRtC17ujc/s1600/20111210+End+of+MIssion+and+Travel+Home+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694345181929984530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2thiVI6dQBQj6y59yafk7mov-kmnsyzTmvBscvXhOU2IDU5pULSgVp9R5EQMVmpP1_k-kfpPnVOf8sU8U2IJkuGzD_H2ktCXPl9GOIsqtgz8931kHC-HHnhyphenhyphenUXB8QiLY9chRtC17ujc/s400/20111210+End+of+MIssion+and+Travel+Home+011.JPG" /></a> Christmas Eve with most of our family--such joy! Many of our family were on the sidewalk to welcome us home with open arms as we arrived back in California. Yes, it was bittersweet to leave our mission but such sweetness to be back with our wonderful family again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-20447425395397609722011-12-04T17:11:00.000-08:002011-12-04T20:08:10.245-08:00Michigan in All Its GloryWe had our first "stick to the ground, huge white flakes" kind of snow last week. It came in the evening, but it was so light outside that it was almost like daylight. Everywhere we looked was covered in a white blanket of snow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZHGB_mv0YrX4WBS4NhOOJtF5MceaXsoM-7lAoNpB8KUhm2uefF4rJuA5cJlywbnB4-dajhrQIpPw85P4h3JXkHELGRHQqJBzPbu6ps1yGMk87N6Vw0QQD-7HXepK_mWVp-dWa524zRc/s1600/20111204+1+First+Snow.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 299px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682470761600934354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZHGB_mv0YrX4WBS4NhOOJtF5MceaXsoM-7lAoNpB8KUhm2uefF4rJuA5cJlywbnB4-dajhrQIpPw85P4h3JXkHELGRHQqJBzPbu6ps1yGMk87N6Vw0QQD-7HXepK_mWVp-dWa524zRc/s400/20111204+1+First+Snow.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Michigan's glorious trees.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbDeybytLWA51O90SA5uYBBcV1eYr5Ds2YkHpvVDHeumBMXRP48J1YBA6KSOvM58V6pxJysR3zjIaSrPeFoAxuqnsfSukp4Gs_Ip37KFzqRUOr41OBbxO6MP55PFF_cwwzNRsFs2cnHA/s1600/20111130+First+Snow+3.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682487121616443794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbDeybytLWA51O90SA5uYBBcV1eYr5Ds2YkHpvVDHeumBMXRP48J1YBA6KSOvM58V6pxJysR3zjIaSrPeFoAxuqnsfSukp4Gs_Ip37KFzqRUOr41OBbxO6MP55PFF_cwwzNRsFs2cnHA/s400/20111130+First+Snow+3.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Walking back from the Institute after class about 9:00 PM.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYmLHbOER3qlsoJBQzPekoYxuimDvhCiNMCgzH0DB4uTlE-1BGB0M0WtE9C26R2sqH-RPe_o-U139JKmGyBzW62rSew9cy8wQekhXUEyqrVMBypCVWGfdTFWHlELTOJFBmUqXqY8Aih8/s1600/20111130+First+Snow+007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682470207666453874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYmLHbOER3qlsoJBQzPekoYxuimDvhCiNMCgzH0DB4uTlE-1BGB0M0WtE9C26R2sqH-RPe_o-U139JKmGyBzW62rSew9cy8wQekhXUEyqrVMBypCVWGfdTFWHlELTOJFBmUqXqY8Aih8/s400/20111130+First+Snow+007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The view from the Living Center looking at the Institute building.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFShsfFb6eC3SBBomBEFCYtXOTuQlzL3u0z6FrOL6kcPfZhwuzgI93Abiu7bfbZvjmbErCaa_FmhOcXIqYr_9-Nh8W2j_nHiieFC1fs42n4rD0OyGZjSjtnQgi_YEEI7KPsMRXcVkpPo/s1600/20111130+First+Snow+009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682469774974288002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFShsfFb6eC3SBBomBEFCYtXOTuQlzL3u0z6FrOL6kcPfZhwuzgI93Abiu7bfbZvjmbErCaa_FmhOcXIqYr_9-Nh8W2j_nHiieFC1fs42n4rD0OyGZjSjtnQgi_YEEI7KPsMRXcVkpPo/s400/20111130+First+Snow+009.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The night view from our balcony.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtIk8awizk2ZE7cDmnUQ2BrVXV63-QcGLrsrpFhYTl8yqTg7m3NMCtXy19lI5QDjDC-hazO6F3Z9t9VZRgcRxslJUyJm0ud01y7XOae3KvrGQ35_oIBPQGmpOp01KOn2cPeJ5Kwp1EbE/s1600/20111130+First+Snow+015.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682469194735390530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtIk8awizk2ZE7cDmnUQ2BrVXV63-QcGLrsrpFhYTl8yqTg7m3NMCtXy19lI5QDjDC-hazO6F3Z9t9VZRgcRxslJUyJm0ud01y7XOae3KvrGQ35_oIBPQGmpOp01KOn2cPeJ5Kwp1EbE/s400/20111130+First+Snow+015.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A serious snowball fight<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hv383bwb7S1TPIAwBsiLiWT1tyXl5hPjqcY1JDTfIsbD1h3cSOHuJS1lOEEmDfldkze5hrricofr8m-w-XIb9LqbCOf9qJ4AxKOwICWDbUWBGlEsGh8A9vugZUxaSCPKOERNOHTxj7o/s1600/20111130+First+Snow+021.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682468847402144274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hv383bwb7S1TPIAwBsiLiWT1tyXl5hPjqcY1JDTfIsbD1h3cSOHuJS1lOEEmDfldkze5hrricofr8m-w-XIb9LqbCOf9qJ4AxKOwICWDbUWBGlEsGh8A9vugZUxaSCPKOERNOHTxj7o/s400/20111130+First+Snow+021.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The birds really loved our bird feeders after the big snow.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ryNK-CA_MY58hUg4cpd__sAzSz9sy3GIGSiKl9MiY246A7FLWYaQ3y15ezN8wfFjE8OXXbsqu7_-JspZqUhkP_bbh1tW-766qwt9lAA5RnWaZmw6KOZ3zbm3dcwnf0fJJ4Eh1fI3nns/s1600/20111130+First+Snow+022.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682468464205624226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ryNK-CA_MY58hUg4cpd__sAzSz9sy3GIGSiKl9MiY246A7FLWYaQ3y15ezN8wfFjE8OXXbsqu7_-JspZqUhkP_bbh1tW-766qwt9lAA5RnWaZmw6KOZ3zbm3dcwnf0fJJ4Eh1fI3nns/s400/20111130+First+Snow+022.JPG" /></a> </div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Everything looked so gorgeous. Christmas is definitely on its way.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-81423780237598804872011-11-27T11:56:00.000-08:002011-11-27T12:57:26.789-08:00Thanksgiving break....Well, the days are flying by quickly. We've recently had snow that stuck to the ground - but quickly went away - and the trees are all pretty much bare.
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<br />It is Thanksgiving Break, and most of the students are away for the holiday. We were very appreciative that President and Sister Hess invited us for Thanksgiving dinner with them at the Mission Home. They just arrived in July and are very busy. We, and all the other missionaries, really appreciate all that they do.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLapHFY5J3nLdgEFnBctktTqKFolmvD6tXgQunPjJof-DUqfYQj9f_GW4-MjOqKmIgbukTWMEaRgZcKyClRu6Om392L-B9Gbvc87zEUvLuZ2H0CEjN7NygZxYR_BnCBG0Ly4xHD1hDIhW/s1600/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+001.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679781295733926418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLapHFY5J3nLdgEFnBctktTqKFolmvD6tXgQunPjJof-DUqfYQj9f_GW4-MjOqKmIgbukTWMEaRgZcKyClRu6Om392L-B9Gbvc87zEUvLuZ2H0CEjN7NygZxYR_BnCBG0Ly4xHD1hDIhW/s400/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+001.JPG" /></a>
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<br />President and Sister Hess
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyDPWpyFnc19pJzr8WVT7EqFbbjOZSY18d0_FEcyTrnsl8x-GulSrQglLac20wS638GhvUH8HWwalr277WmFeCwaAnufs9-IeDM_vUXfw7SEMfolej_RDyC_IlaUJHYGeY-L1PFi3ihWL/s1600/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679768726377262658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyDPWpyFnc19pJzr8WVT7EqFbbjOZSY18d0_FEcyTrnsl8x-GulSrQglLac20wS638GhvUH8HWwalr277WmFeCwaAnufs9-IeDM_vUXfw7SEMfolej_RDyC_IlaUJHYGeY-L1PFi3ihWL/s400/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+007.JPG" /></a>Also present at the dinner were Elder and Sister Jensen. They are the "Office couple" and take care of all the details. Also very busy all of the time....
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<br />Elder and Sister Jensen
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUpluv1Zw27EWK543VEYD5_n3sr3TPqzryqD7ZIA0eENYgHA1kzmonesg6OKQb4qHOqrTIR9vHsEM03Ui-Gt-sxEsbGogdGPSai8sYwB7E4hfmqGGLVPK09qpSpKagsGBvgx7-b9ojgZV/s1600/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679768872163159666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUpluv1Zw27EWK543VEYD5_n3sr3TPqzryqD7ZIA0eENYgHA1kzmonesg6OKQb4qHOqrTIR9vHsEM03Ui-Gt-sxEsbGogdGPSai8sYwB7E4hfmqGGLVPK09qpSpKagsGBvgx7-b9ojgZV/s400/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+009.JPG" /></a>
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<br />Below are Elders Dehart and Ransley. They are the two Assistants to the President, and they are truly inspirational, not to mention fantastic missionaries and leaders....or if I might use a familiar missionary term...AWESOME!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iy8Vt6CD74Puxs8hvHQbt_A07q4XhpJjcosn_tzy0-ATNMEBZ9FKtrPIfjJqXeda4-hJcNWGsOsINY6efmY-7FMimjETkCx8JtYxOMicr_dko0sG8VQcfzF4Pt10Fb5Q21KZ5LTqtg3A/s1600/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679768260412158658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iy8Vt6CD74Puxs8hvHQbt_A07q4XhpJjcosn_tzy0-ATNMEBZ9FKtrPIfjJqXeda4-hJcNWGsOsINY6efmY-7FMimjETkCx8JtYxOMicr_dko0sG8VQcfzF4Pt10Fb5Q21KZ5LTqtg3A/s400/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+005.JPG" /></a>
<br />Below is Archie, a very recent convert to the church. He is an MSU student from Shanghai and truly a wonderful person.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CWfrTAfvIB8Om4lgh32gwO0yb1WGimZ8l23jwMrHbauQaxzLnRMWLGXMjYbkO-D3pq8oT_tXa7a1o-3ErK1U-nzvABT4-0sixQkyl-0ex0aK00y54LmuPbmr5rqp-TxvVwlugIYoA9th/s1600/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+008.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679769985477071906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CWfrTAfvIB8Om4lgh32gwO0yb1WGimZ8l23jwMrHbauQaxzLnRMWLGXMjYbkO-D3pq8oT_tXa7a1o-3ErK1U-nzvABT4-0sixQkyl-0ex0aK00y54LmuPbmr5rqp-TxvVwlugIYoA9th/s400/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+008.JPG" /></a>
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<br />A week ago we went to the Lansing "Light Parade" and lighting of the Christmas tree at the state capitol. It was VERY cold but really spectactular, with the capitol lights on, the big tree being lit and fireworks going off all at the same time. There were thousands of people flocking to see the show....
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PXxRtW3Kws5sezxqLoHaTucIiCbRZ1TK29CFhI3ziaf_o5e00ENN5p7UQ1cZkqxPVcrDpHNWrvXL66JCmrVU5POMyaOjfJ79C-1mxt_vKMm6BXck2zy7cFb9rKHvNSKQALir5s3sArNW/s1600/20111118+Light+Parade+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679767432348660626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PXxRtW3Kws5sezxqLoHaTucIiCbRZ1TK29CFhI3ziaf_o5e00ENN5p7UQ1cZkqxPVcrDpHNWrvXL66JCmrVU5POMyaOjfJ79C-1mxt_vKMm6BXck2zy7cFb9rKHvNSKQALir5s3sArNW/s400/20111118+Light+Parade+3.JPG" /></a> And here's our own modest contribution...our apartment Christmas Tree!</div>
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<br /><div href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAOAMXoPx0AzMn3SZzg6j1tD6ZHhzG-ztAf1Ymsk7aQmRgPasyj4MQRmchslbP1JWZj9INVr-FeLr8Q-LOCHT4Ciu7Di7RUQriV0M1SOf-TAaN_4HarX6C9wOH4_68fMCcwUm83b2pALz/s1600/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+011.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679770114823888482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAOAMXoPx0AzMn3SZzg6j1tD6ZHhzG-ztAf1Ymsk7aQmRgPasyj4MQRmchslbP1JWZj9INVr-FeLr8Q-LOCHT4Ciu7Di7RUQriV0M1SOf-TAaN_4HarX6C9wOH4_68fMCcwUm83b2pALz/s400/20111124+Thanksgiving+Dinner+011.JPG" /></a>
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<br />Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-24999076449408618702011-11-13T16:21:00.000-08:002011-11-15T08:50:54.613-08:00Time Seems to Be Flying By!Time really is flying by for us. Sometimes I wonder what happened to summer. Most of the trees are bare now and it even snowed a little last week. We have noticed that the weather is very unpredictable here in Michigan and this fall we have really experienced it. We so enjoy working with the young people here and it has been a special treat to watch from the sidelines their growth in the gospel, their growth in leadership and talents, and their relationships and friendships enlarge, some flourishing to engagements and then marriage. We love teaching them and just hanging out with these amazing young people discussing the gospel and various aspects of their developing lives.<br /><br />Our young elders and sisters are wonderful here and work so hard. We had another baptism a week ago. Archie, as he likes to be called, was baptised. He is from China and I have to say there is something very special about him. I believe he will be a great leader someday.<br /><br />It didn't take us long to figure out that MSU football is real big here and we decided that we needed to experience an MSU football game while we were here. Our sweet daughter Heather, who loves football, came for a visit and so this was the perfect time to head to the game. For weeks now on our Saturday morning walks we had observed all the tailgate parties, the flags on cars, and the hoards of people heading towards the Spartan Stadium. Having Heather visit for a few days was wonderful!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivnx3t2C7-QJ5koD0-0F9a1J7NWjuv0D3LRl7nB9S6pjbHchpXoUg6vPhkRHhc0SKIcixHrXeB9mc2-N7OtOx9TOOg4EXr1cm7cY_shVn5wLTg58q4SiccIC86CWcVpO1BVTTwLpgsds/s1600/20111109+MSU+Game+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674648719485855842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivnx3t2C7-QJ5koD0-0F9a1J7NWjuv0D3LRl7nB9S6pjbHchpXoUg6vPhkRHhc0SKIcixHrXeB9mc2-N7OtOx9TOOg4EXr1cm7cY_shVn5wLTg58q4SiccIC86CWcVpO1BVTTwLpgsds/s400/20111109+MSU+Game+004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7wo_Az_mJmtGPjqihwlFbmb2gIk2HwaOlUr_5ikWdonxHbFq4PCydYV6esKAfiCqn-NTthyphenhyphenznGlr3BgQP_wHQdtOZEznvV27WYEPeU3kPE04SFfXiWT0kVvgpQc0hBydtU32NSIc9GI/s1600/20111109+MSU+Game+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674648544075015218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7wo_Az_mJmtGPjqihwlFbmb2gIk2HwaOlUr_5ikWdonxHbFq4PCydYV6esKAfiCqn-NTthyphenhyphenznGlr3BgQP_wHQdtOZEznvV27WYEPeU3kPE04SFfXiWT0kVvgpQc0hBydtU32NSIc9GI/s400/20111109+MSU+Game+002.JPG" /></a> There are hundreds of tailgate parties over nearly every space of ground leading up to Spartan Stadium. They really know how to celebrate football here at MSU.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h_NMLxMs81-PYmewXPYZQzE9mMwP3mrGTUen2H9EJEjsQYROvDein7bMZqUxQh4TrNtKaVaZy-w4Pf9ZYvDV60ssbOKsuAAkMOeg8xS_J3Z-_82-KRLseGwmjKbrM0UjAfuPORd6z40/s1600/20111109+MSU+Game+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674648078432058274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h_NMLxMs81-PYmewXPYZQzE9mMwP3mrGTUen2H9EJEjsQYROvDein7bMZqUxQh4TrNtKaVaZy-w4Pf9ZYvDV60ssbOKsuAAkMOeg8xS_J3Z-_82-KRLseGwmjKbrM0UjAfuPORd6z40/s400/20111109+MSU+Game+006.JPG" /></a> View from our seats in Spartan Stadium.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsvzkj_7I45n1oM1bkmZKA__taJJZr3G5SPiCEwM1VEeJZlSYWdIiv00DSeeSFKQ84Psr2n0tjxJhGOB3DpiGpZdVIImxvg7BeRYyixZ7EEvTNau7sADPmvIAW5rlF5GB6B1U6xw1yMg/s1600/20111109+MSU+Game+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674647782127076914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsvzkj_7I45n1oM1bkmZKA__taJJZr3G5SPiCEwM1VEeJZlSYWdIiv00DSeeSFKQ84Psr2n0tjxJhGOB3DpiGpZdVIImxvg7BeRYyixZ7EEvTNau7sADPmvIAW5rlF5GB6B1U6xw1yMg/s400/20111109+MSU+Game+007.JPG" /></a> Spartie himself<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSSxIKlNzWxKfHmklMCPCWSJNdE1Nx8iycBSXyvddAapRvenFd68kxhEyz20dHJOKedYvNPcE_Ie2vzUsH-5FlSkwJE6leKh4COP7Fmj0aCMtsM68bllDXfIWlMplowWC47eW47MshYw/s1600/20111109+MSU+Game+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674646865860650450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSSxIKlNzWxKfHmklMCPCWSJNdE1Nx8iycBSXyvddAapRvenFd68kxhEyz20dHJOKedYvNPcE_Ie2vzUsH-5FlSkwJE6leKh4COP7Fmj0aCMtsM68bllDXfIWlMplowWC47eW47MshYw/s400/20111109+MSU+Game+010.JPG" /></a> For Family Night, the University Ward had a Halloween Party at the Institute.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrBEs69VP5Hy3lWTqQoTskNUq_Fz0w3JwSFZ24b9WWdwO3lRiW5BmyfUhUia_HcIjHeCVUzt6gz-yZaTS0BJYPMOFmsr42iJA9K96INu9eeHrcZ4Y_JjDeGhAwgJNeWMVftqgbEViGkk/s1600/20111103+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674646516722251778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrBEs69VP5Hy3lWTqQoTskNUq_Fz0w3JwSFZ24b9WWdwO3lRiW5BmyfUhUia_HcIjHeCVUzt6gz-yZaTS0BJYPMOFmsr42iJA9K96INu9eeHrcZ4Y_JjDeGhAwgJNeWMVftqgbEViGkk/s400/20111103+009.JPG" /></a>Some of our special people.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueOiIxahs_4lxxvN9iKa-MuXwgX2IWNm4abC-mhpGHjnZoNZIvFetFfgrJGhMPSnXV_fKNG8EKkcibxNyihu4BEKQdI_m-t6gV1QXLqYo1C4x7gHkrdDxO7jgm7wPqYvXTbZBkN_h60U/s1600/20111103+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674646376706812754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueOiIxahs_4lxxvN9iKa-MuXwgX2IWNm4abC-mhpGHjnZoNZIvFetFfgrJGhMPSnXV_fKNG8EKkcibxNyihu4BEKQdI_m-t6gV1QXLqYo1C4x7gHkrdDxO7jgm7wPqYvXTbZBkN_h60U/s400/20111103+011.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X7nieXEmvYOa9Wr0PSjYMvMQ8bnfpximX9xmffDJdYRGDyBslMcU6NOfg_2dOACQZe5pwKwEpuNgTaVeU2J5YHu138SmeFTK7YMsqamMLhuCRaO-vb2Wu3KlkDHG5hCmapaALqcpeZQ/s1600/20111103+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674646229761596930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X7nieXEmvYOa9Wr0PSjYMvMQ8bnfpximX9xmffDJdYRGDyBslMcU6NOfg_2dOACQZe5pwKwEpuNgTaVeU2J5YHu138SmeFTK7YMsqamMLhuCRaO-vb2Wu3KlkDHG5hCmapaALqcpeZQ/s400/20111103+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETCHft1cOvizxw7T3borpF2rC80OsmEf2oK2NwN1ykMtLXBRuZOJLJaTJV1S7HQXTsNe3r6b6n-JXNBsQOzDH21jbgvOlvOP5XouICixUzAw3kPuGysI7oEPcBX_ZGx0R8Uz_qKRJnq4/s1600/20111103+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674646085933948162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETCHft1cOvizxw7T3borpF2rC80OsmEf2oK2NwN1ykMtLXBRuZOJLJaTJV1S7HQXTsNe3r6b6n-JXNBsQOzDH21jbgvOlvOP5XouICixUzAw3kPuGysI7oEPcBX_ZGx0R8Uz_qKRJnq4/s400/20111103+019.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CZdqkik2nD5K_IetV9m4tbpFkB1-DEnhVjYZFcdYDrcSFxaE-M6jThs64U3Q97I2plyPedf24T6OwLCHnVvwBHrPKGgtfSdm_DyqEgmvfQvtFRmS-uoGp8uS2PmISN-7IIj8jGntZCU/s1600/20111103+038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674645942762435186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CZdqkik2nD5K_IetV9m4tbpFkB1-DEnhVjYZFcdYDrcSFxaE-M6jThs64U3Q97I2plyPedf24T6OwLCHnVvwBHrPKGgtfSdm_DyqEgmvfQvtFRmS-uoGp8uS2PmISN-7IIj8jGntZCU/s400/20111103+038.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRji2kkAbZIymaDnqjntVg_wWCOe7SQ75k9oz6CbO_L2mBDrZOb1d3G4nHvBVJ3eSAuEKsN4kYP9jTDiHKnfA4ujf2ok3EQJXp8GbVN6skRYTtJIh_p7ha9kvt2xrNksMASjvfMN-5nE4/s1600/20111103+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674645733645309826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRji2kkAbZIymaDnqjntVg_wWCOe7SQ75k9oz6CbO_L2mBDrZOb1d3G4nHvBVJ3eSAuEKsN4kYP9jTDiHKnfA4ujf2ok3EQJXp8GbVN6skRYTtJIh_p7ha9kvt2xrNksMASjvfMN-5nE4/s400/20111103+029.JPG" /></a>Alli Ryan organized the party.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggY1Fm69qeVNGmm9Q2738MajmrrL3fzzHTmutJiKUZzg6v1va7NFDUEF3ZwimMjOkYXccg8wqBUbxWdKTaxN1HLOIhOZJZ5dhrLsnKGbRAwUaSPMzK-fABzgt9xbUb2fx8zbyIbhdSkIs/s1600/20111103+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674645023989137602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggY1Fm69qeVNGmm9Q2738MajmrrL3fzzHTmutJiKUZzg6v1va7NFDUEF3ZwimMjOkYXccg8wqBUbxWdKTaxN1HLOIhOZJZ5dhrLsnKGbRAwUaSPMzK-fABzgt9xbUb2fx8zbyIbhdSkIs/s400/20111103+006.JPG" /></a> A tasty picture from Friday Forum lunch.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnVmjLD53Z77ekBdhsa5PPpqvXYMHMiQVBC4SeLab04CTYMgyMWU1ZKT7Fcnd1JD1RuKtJ9m1aBGordWH-bqyuFrhl6ECz5PJKS0zy04d0CSw-9i1uvUjnpfGKxVVKRsE0K5LOjGo9xE/s1600/20111104+Friday+Forum+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674643173187970754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnVmjLD53Z77ekBdhsa5PPpqvXYMHMiQVBC4SeLab04CTYMgyMWU1ZKT7Fcnd1JD1RuKtJ9m1aBGordWH-bqyuFrhl6ECz5PJKS0zy04d0CSw-9i1uvUjnpfGKxVVKRsE0K5LOjGo9xE/s400/20111104+Friday+Forum+008.JPG" /></a> Fall wouldn't be fall with our pumpkin bars for Friday Forum lunch.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2hbD0qg7aSjvKhz6ze7SrWUptH8T9HftlorBzOjx4MGMCbJ4Nj_SaTYQd-KAyNUxd1xhZXAnDCgdD9hlk2VofYNEf-5JeMSHShGYIq0T_UQyK5jwwKVZj5NUaFGk2UWwKRxGs19_akM/s1600/20111104+Friday+Forum+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674642998567432738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2hbD0qg7aSjvKhz6ze7SrWUptH8T9HftlorBzOjx4MGMCbJ4Nj_SaTYQd-KAyNUxd1xhZXAnDCgdD9hlk2VofYNEf-5JeMSHShGYIq0T_UQyK5jwwKVZj5NUaFGk2UWwKRxGs19_akM/s400/20111104+Friday+Forum+004.JPG" /></a> Friday Forum<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMO52ijbnjhwHEB7lI7L_ocBIv0eV3XFAQvJEVcepY0Vz3yAFurlQoeWcWaEVFevddA09S1LfjtxmmNhiMLkhK0RCNMgn1jj0yyv7eixzQlDqPiV5VGrmpGfQbTV1YT5mq20fvx_3jeIs/s1600/20111021+Friday+Forum+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674642716804868722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMO52ijbnjhwHEB7lI7L_ocBIv0eV3XFAQvJEVcepY0Vz3yAFurlQoeWcWaEVFevddA09S1LfjtxmmNhiMLkhK0RCNMgn1jj0yyv7eixzQlDqPiV5VGrmpGfQbTV1YT5mq20fvx_3jeIs/s400/20111021+Friday+Forum+008.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpT_y0BLKAbhcPf5xjJh2fsdQLzvLOidYpgkFxQJqA-wP-N-vHHENdnF056JbdWxiQbZ3zk7RjExYYnZSg71W_YZx1QAVczVQ9U0tXX04wImK7UgONZu7szaM8t6SdMU8jTQaKMT-VNM/s1600/20111021+Friday+Forum+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674642624642286434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpT_y0BLKAbhcPf5xjJh2fsdQLzvLOidYpgkFxQJqA-wP-N-vHHENdnF056JbdWxiQbZ3zk7RjExYYnZSg71W_YZx1QAVczVQ9U0tXX04wImK7UgONZu7szaM8t6SdMU8jTQaKMT-VNM/s400/20111021+Friday+Forum+007.JPG" /></a>Our hangout at the Institute<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks_5KwmFWds6g2FVZ3UNJIEI3lgi_2oefBctIoOuUNOMwHOQs1yvUYHmLFdV73sp6G8MpRT7wBNoaMqvCca4yno79PKqBeRlS83wR9Ivyf4XU-NQ_NgL1Bvz2MG2lG43m3BDLufPeUWs/s1600/20111102+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674641948834929298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks_5KwmFWds6g2FVZ3UNJIEI3lgi_2oefBctIoOuUNOMwHOQs1yvUYHmLFdV73sp6G8MpRT7wBNoaMqvCca4yno79PKqBeRlS83wR9Ivyf4XU-NQ_NgL1Bvz2MG2lG43m3BDLufPeUWs/s400/20111102+005.JPG" /></a>Our friend Roy just received his mission call to serve in the Brazil Sao Paulo Interlagos Mission.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuQHwvvr2cgK7AwATw7-rjlDc-LvxXcvkV0VxGccAR5H8UJCRpXouSfSvf0oEIbINo-IrIpyVHzrAuytvbkEK7wWvtPjC1Zf35B-9WBr-esPVU4OyzU8qCeDF9qRvuHWdfQzLbMGtiZY/s1600/20111103+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674641528920703122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuQHwvvr2cgK7AwATw7-rjlDc-LvxXcvkV0VxGccAR5H8UJCRpXouSfSvf0oEIbINo-IrIpyVHzrAuytvbkEK7wWvtPjC1Zf35B-9WBr-esPVU4OyzU8qCeDF9qRvuHWdfQzLbMGtiZY/s400/20111103+041.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-38525531267884242192011-10-23T16:01:00.000-07:002011-10-23T16:51:25.621-07:00Friends From Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxfvxO4tWIye74sF8bjv3p-qJISQI8n-SVbO_lhXw1Elt_s7jaP-fL_XWdPe34s1cpIVAIcCs1_uvF45raQDTwLEdyFFpdbax9WVMOKlo9x51y0Uil6Njl7k688g62IHq1XGgphD_Pu0/s1600/20111017+Steve+and+Laura+Conran+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666827882253278226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxfvxO4tWIye74sF8bjv3p-qJISQI8n-SVbO_lhXw1Elt_s7jaP-fL_XWdPe34s1cpIVAIcCs1_uvF45raQDTwLEdyFFpdbax9WVMOKlo9x51y0Uil6Njl7k688g62IHq1XGgphD_Pu0/s400/20111017+Steve+and+Laura+Conran+003.JPG" /></a> What a treat this week to have visitors from home. Steve and Lara Conran stopped by on Tuesday to see us here in East Lansing. It was fun to show them our little domain here at the Institute and give them a short tour of the enormous and busy MSU campus. We had lunch at Culvers and then ice cream at the famous MSU Dairy Store. It was a short visit, but ever so sweet and I don’t think the four of us could have talked any faster to try to get all it all in. Thank you Lara and Steve for taking the time to say hi and know we loved every minute of your visit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDo2HFpOUMrb8FXmUaw4jbOLd7X9aYIaxMEikYA9TIyZo_YvDdS2JUu1SX6ymkysf6wX8rl9g-eklNkFYuyEqaLhpH8340EqpTNSJlMP8bAsRtm11axclcmJASWPh4-Jq4LjfDzq6PG1v/s1600/Gizzards.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666838349207574754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDo2HFpOUMrb8FXmUaw4jbOLd7X9aYIaxMEikYA9TIyZo_YvDdS2JUu1SX6ymkysf6wX8rl9g-eklNkFYuyEqaLhpH8340EqpTNSJlMP8bAsRtm11axclcmJASWPh4-Jq4LjfDzq6PG1v/s400/Gizzards.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Last week we also checked off an item on our to do list here in Michigan and that was to go to the Joe's Gizzard City to have a deep fried cheeseburger. And yes, we did try the gizzards too, after the waitress brought us a plate to try. All I can say is the experience was interesting. The cheeseburger was featured on the Food Channel's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" when they filmed a show there.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-7998234912087000422011-10-18T14:05:00.001-07:002011-10-20T06:31:26.842-07:00On the question "...are Mormon's Christian?"We seem to be increasingly hearing a refrain in the secular media presenting the notion that “Mormon’s are not Christians”. That is an incorrect statement: let me present a few thoughts on the subject:<br /><br />While many refer to our church as the Mormon Church, its correct name is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”. Mormon was a great prophet and leader whom we revere, but we worship our Savior, Jesus Christ, not Mormon.<br /><br />We worship Jesus Christ as a member of the Godhead. He is the living Son of the living God. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. Our first Article of Faith reads: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” We do not worship any other. While ancient and modern prophets like Abraham, Moses and Joseph Smith receive our gratitude and respect, we do not worship them.<br /><br />We believe that only through Jesus Christ can anyone be saved. As in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”.<br /><br />We are Christians because we do our best to follow Christ. He is our ideal, our Master, our leader, and our Divine example. We trust in Him and live by His words: "Come, follow me."<br /><br />It is our conviction that Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God, that He was more than a man, a moral teacher, or even a prophet.<br /><br />We are Christians because we seek and experience the effects of His great and infinite Atonement in our lives. We exercise faith, we repent of our sins, we are baptized, and we receive forgiveness through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We know He suffered for our sins because the Holy Ghost replaces our guilt with joy and peace deep in our hearts.<br /><br />In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi proclaims: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (2 Nephi 25:26)<br /><br />Yes, we ARE Christians.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-35285805155711749932011-10-16T14:49:00.000-07:002011-10-16T16:52:57.342-07:00Fall is Here Once AgainFall is definitely upon us. The colors of the trees as they change, can really take your breath away, partially green with huge sections of red, orange, or yellow. Other trees seem to change all at once, but it is an amazing sight to see. I think the fall leaves here have peaked now and we are seeing lots of bare tops of the trees and the ground everywhere is covered with colorful fallen leaves. We love to crunch through them when we take our morning walks. Fall also brought us October General Conference which was so inspirational. I taught “Teachings of the Living Prophets” this summer and I think it really helped me better appreciate conference. I now know how to really study a conference talk and I appreciate so much more our general authorities and the inspiring words they shared with us, especially President Monson. It was a wonderful conference. (For those of you who missed conference or who aren’t members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do go to Mormon.org and enjoy it. We definitely are Christians.)<br /><br />Fall on Michigan State University Campus<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKgY-pNWmwRujFgtKOLmbtZi0p4KHNyRFjS2MxrbNUp0N4m3vQOIovVHHgh8GRqJL5MIQeY3Nyqot8yA6vfZ2pASJoU_3ctSJE615lQRD1UiHzWuQWpzA09eYo71sG20dy-6oVFMbfgk/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664223641700811298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKgY-pNWmwRujFgtKOLmbtZi0p4KHNyRFjS2MxrbNUp0N4m3vQOIovVHHgh8GRqJL5MIQeY3Nyqot8yA6vfZ2pASJoU_3ctSJE615lQRD1UiHzWuQWpzA09eYo71sG20dy-6oVFMbfgk/s400/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX4UVRXwzMqJO1weQQadQHXhQCc-Zbi16CIIWI00uFzBCQ55aVna-M64JTPNRyQDPmTraUboNg5OSAAQRN1qGuaFDXetkkaAA_VZDc-YMLUUSZinZ_EA4hobv1CfmqYqwEW3F20tjnY8/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+208.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664223378167490162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX4UVRXwzMqJO1weQQadQHXhQCc-Zbi16CIIWI00uFzBCQ55aVna-M64JTPNRyQDPmTraUboNg5OSAAQRN1qGuaFDXetkkaAA_VZDc-YMLUUSZinZ_EA4hobv1CfmqYqwEW3F20tjnY8/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+208.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This is our anniversary "cruise ship". Well, maybe calling it a cruise ship is a bit over the top since it was a half hour ride down the Grande River to see the fall trees, but since we were celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary, we'll call it our cruise ship. The short trip was lovely and the trees were really beyond spectacular and a perfect way to spend our anniversary. The river boat trips were part of the Fall Island Festival in Grand Ledge.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrtouGs2u_5DNzCc1GSwO43NzSViCxRlj0iT5A4tidOM1HRn84dWjSHLVVadi4wE6ECK_qP9zdnlkBTt9ioVsTIr9hcLBbar9A66cuu1dqcYZg1QeL0Nig1f8rICOYRgXLxMu7bvk2o0/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+175.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664222791605466114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrtouGs2u_5DNzCc1GSwO43NzSViCxRlj0iT5A4tidOM1HRn84dWjSHLVVadi4wE6ECK_qP9zdnlkBTt9ioVsTIr9hcLBbar9A66cuu1dqcYZg1QeL0Nig1f8rICOYRgXLxMu7bvk2o0/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+175.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4e991Ze7nIhyphenhyphenPmzKjVDJG9rL9FkSfCa8Yr04QmTJiREF2F-YCG-SeKwpPt3tS8PW-uk18GHeEbQ2TpNKUvY6wQa8ofsZl0_dNX6S62Movw4Q0qJNwc8c_KRRKUsa8DnJc2saXZ1xO1U/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+173.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664237476668456178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4e991Ze7nIhyphenhyphenPmzKjVDJG9rL9FkSfCa8Yr04QmTJiREF2F-YCG-SeKwpPt3tS8PW-uk18GHeEbQ2TpNKUvY6wQa8ofsZl0_dNX6S62Movw4Q0qJNwc8c_KRRKUsa8DnJc2saXZ1xO1U/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+173.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNZoI3ZLrU_opYLJG8I-kWrwQvUfAVoR5Dy9J9OAk8Ci3dPy4dWFXSE7s5AUN8U-YP91YW_x3hXfCHxP5sEhznWQ5tODTaXmCt4FUsVq9bY3CDNjhpjx58d5uR62Oasqn376IXZCjrg8/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+077.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664222012704813890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNZoI3ZLrU_opYLJG8I-kWrwQvUfAVoR5Dy9J9OAk8Ci3dPy4dWFXSE7s5AUN8U-YP91YW_x3hXfCHxP5sEhznWQ5tODTaXmCt4FUsVq9bY3CDNjhpjx58d5uR62Oasqn376IXZCjrg8/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+077.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtZLMwAOndYMmJfNSbpxbfekXejxthoSLbCnhABAHl9jLtCLQKKAJpV_TyDX13mSUmIumtnzB70g5u-rZ0N-I-G0REizFv8FSCD3sNwFGBYHXy_N1dQK-hw6IjItAyqAn4-00E3v_qYk/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+081.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664222201225357362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtZLMwAOndYMmJfNSbpxbfekXejxthoSLbCnhABAHl9jLtCLQKKAJpV_TyDX13mSUmIumtnzB70g5u-rZ0N-I-G0REizFv8FSCD3sNwFGBYHXy_N1dQK-hw6IjItAyqAn4-00E3v_qYk/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+081.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkvKaCTPR2n31a6ds9JQVTEopsYuWWCdU7lK0UqEASi4mowCPF15GraCb_BSKMia-8c-7gjPpo5DC1y-C8to8Mw9wMyi_GLbl3OKThZ1ZVrCEBjlmenxv6XD2YvobPu0WAHzGzq-wqYk/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+072.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664221864619519618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkvKaCTPR2n31a6ds9JQVTEopsYuWWCdU7lK0UqEASi4mowCPF15GraCb_BSKMia-8c-7gjPpo5DC1y-C8to8Mw9wMyi_GLbl3OKThZ1ZVrCEBjlmenxv6XD2YvobPu0WAHzGzq-wqYk/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+072.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwMlyYhigEuk9CFtt6fKFLG9AA_E7vrOHw4mzHnC3Uu-qleAUw39AbgsIWO16EcmtwU2xKf8a07kODo0QqliVSJ2Z7di1Uk-1pKJ96IheRp7Iz2_zxMBlFyyPZnIP8AqeCW-eiLb_7D0/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+166.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664219625538523378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwMlyYhigEuk9CFtt6fKFLG9AA_E7vrOHw4mzHnC3Uu-qleAUw39AbgsIWO16EcmtwU2xKf8a07kODo0QqliVSJ2Z7di1Uk-1pKJ96IheRp7Iz2_zxMBlFyyPZnIP8AqeCW-eiLb_7D0/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+166.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrxeSqSN3a4wf9Vbwl9e9S2HGZhTTH6z8CJJEew7Le_a7kl-IPZqmD4N1DoDGPGodcFflJitut2IW6S97IZT78cWSFXyceN_7EIBAyzgg0uDYJyHD2nrqTjHs4Qeh4DPjFhCr-9-Kof0/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664219288518764242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrxeSqSN3a4wf9Vbwl9e9S2HGZhTTH6z8CJJEew7Le_a7kl-IPZqmD4N1DoDGPGodcFflJitut2IW6S97IZT78cWSFXyceN_7EIBAyzgg0uDYJyHD2nrqTjHs4Qeh4DPjFhCr-9-Kof0/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+046.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTbvCAvi1kqzgNOQUIuXb_0rP2t34MvEhyphenhyphenKF-O13q0K6a21q_e8PsOCAJufINUKOuO8IYkSLSIyHJ3XtTzRuKMNC43a95T1A8X5ZJVA_dg0knSNMQoDGt8iLFa64rSNACPJy5aThJmH8/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+108.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664218972407875778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTbvCAvi1kqzgNOQUIuXb_0rP2t34MvEhyphenhyphenKF-O13q0K6a21q_e8PsOCAJufINUKOuO8IYkSLSIyHJ3XtTzRuKMNC43a95T1A8X5ZJVA_dg0knSNMQoDGt8iLFa64rSNACPJy5aThJmH8/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+108.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1HaI1aKV8vT113_GUwoGkjGifshXa8Q6ed3MnGbBAcTAfolnYsgbbI7b3vPXTgqI2Axj_mxcAbgWdPdMWkiIXvSbQiPqgxuY9H9JP72evRauGnomhMfekf4tLR3No90q2H2eoX5feE4/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+136.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664218547941284994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1HaI1aKV8vT113_GUwoGkjGifshXa8Q6ed3MnGbBAcTAfolnYsgbbI7b3vPXTgqI2Axj_mxcAbgWdPdMWkiIXvSbQiPqgxuY9H9JP72evRauGnomhMfekf4tLR3No90q2H2eoX5feE4/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+136.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3Y13I76wrY-HWNmYtUfQuJNvxCYDHofCjlF48-ga1DaBwO4FcJoKY14jL8HoTQO8yvpNXPY1p6Y87ir9iyGz2mNc9pV2s-3uGi_rOIy7QZ3rEAEN12YZH-vl4AACr61X14UxfpkL-kY/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+122.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664216437165396162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3Y13I76wrY-HWNmYtUfQuJNvxCYDHofCjlF48-ga1DaBwO4FcJoKY14jL8HoTQO8yvpNXPY1p6Y87ir9iyGz2mNc9pV2s-3uGi_rOIy7QZ3rEAEN12YZH-vl4AACr61X14UxfpkL-kY/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+122.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div>The corn has been harvested....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA1UENgNF8OfcJGQqgAzhTr-ptvOFKgJhyPlUQ-Bw99h9AAtgSyfsN4Ec8zP-qK-KdgIg3ae5L-00hwHNhcO0p0pm9aJhH9Tvxhf0fN-t7oZm9N4Hgb_k6sxqWzteHlsMzM-j-0Y75yI/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664214221902293938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA1UENgNF8OfcJGQqgAzhTr-ptvOFKgJhyPlUQ-Bw99h9AAtgSyfsN4Ec8zP-qK-KdgIg3ae5L-00hwHNhcO0p0pm9aJhH9Tvxhf0fN-t7oZm9N4Hgb_k6sxqWzteHlsMzM-j-0Y75yI/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+016.JPG" /></a><br />Many wonderful old barns in Michigan...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0Rcj3VI59xL4o-ssN47TAYT9fgw59Sy44n5abdcvHadpoKSZZTguZGM74Qvvng7V3DqMfetnydy2dOkO5Jydd0jwX6UStC06zVCn3USMhqRfmH1E4iooKHo9C8aaL4TIKVhBGiAgPDc/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664214108533241810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0Rcj3VI59xL4o-ssN47TAYT9fgw59Sy44n5abdcvHadpoKSZZTguZGM74Qvvng7V3DqMfetnydy2dOkO5Jydd0jwX6UStC06zVCn3USMhqRfmH1E4iooKHo9C8aaL4TIKVhBGiAgPDc/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+015.JPG" /></a><br />Needs to dry out, then ready to harvest. This is all "field corn", which produces only one cob per stalk due to being planted so close together. Used for silage and methanol.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStgMkN5-mj4VqHwmhplsUgj4sKqVfZAo_1Q_dD04crTWr_Kbj_F5h5-eimPYpxO9v3296jvzvsadjkQUYr7uqIc4UOz5NJe3GGr0ttoUR3iQXu8WY22oDZXhDM46A7I0KMNkg6ECZzsQ/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664213850859055250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStgMkN5-mj4VqHwmhplsUgj4sKqVfZAo_1Q_dD04crTWr_Kbj_F5h5-eimPYpxO9v3296jvzvsadjkQUYr7uqIc4UOz5NJe3GGr0ttoUR3iQXu8WY22oDZXhDM46A7I0KMNkg6ECZzsQ/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+008.JPG" /></a>This is a view of the picturesque apple ochards from Uncle John's Cider Mill.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kelYpJ1ZX-WwIzwv2mgruC-z2gNZhS2fprauJdEEbvUNcQFoOqk7tFUfkQuOr6aBVNOs8w96k2n5YD4cg3tiYMvwDvzz-08oIqHKKOX0UW4uOrQq2zQUCAPxfZMf2g0jYGkUxGEn-0o/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664213681177260658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kelYpJ1ZX-WwIzwv2mgruC-z2gNZhS2fprauJdEEbvUNcQFoOqk7tFUfkQuOr6aBVNOs8w96k2n5YD4cg3tiYMvwDvzz-08oIqHKKOX0UW4uOrQq2zQUCAPxfZMf2g0jYGkUxGEn-0o/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+032.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGizqx9ciburrY7pTX8RtbDAtbHkR28VRqyi6iLcs3__KdO-amW6cN6zIlwwz_IpPDPUqX1MSq-z1qvQRuYGhpa64iZ7dqjtHFjWq1cmjFlFnsAFpUWoqLgLzKU6EuN79dFeO1-3n1FK4/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664213357060411074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGizqx9ciburrY7pTX8RtbDAtbHkR28VRqyi6iLcs3__KdO-amW6cN6zIlwwz_IpPDPUqX1MSq-z1qvQRuYGhpa64iZ7dqjtHFjWq1cmjFlFnsAFpUWoqLgLzKU6EuN79dFeO1-3n1FK4/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+031.JPG" /></a><br />Fall wouldn’t be fall in Michigan without a trip to an apple cider mill so we had to go. We went Uncle John’s Cider Mill and indulged in apple donuts and a jug of the most delicious apple cider. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tz4FVZH5X1gb8PTqc8gp-Y-8g5nrGf2sP8nHVag2Im8Se1uWyMYBY4NAwDiT_-WF5w6WLCjMQ5io2I8luZKkIM-f2RDQRK9xi9GUd1OUNwzfL3dLRXrFkHtrTLARkFW98Ut5XMXIYU8/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664213057810911106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tz4FVZH5X1gb8PTqc8gp-Y-8g5nrGf2sP8nHVag2Im8Se1uWyMYBY4NAwDiT_-WF5w6WLCjMQ5io2I8luZKkIM-f2RDQRK9xi9GUd1OUNwzfL3dLRXrFkHtrTLARkFW98Ut5XMXIYU8/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+023.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And here's our little daisy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSg5fV54yN6rP1II8McNjosucWMENydDvnQcW8EpMoykrytc8XAngUB-rzunkzJi_IOCO-229jsVN70CxhDdS-osU4rGpQIkzQuTRuR4JE_mt7B-J8yEjzgeVal-HMcrwpwrd3DfdabLE/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664212690856233122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSg5fV54yN6rP1II8McNjosucWMENydDvnQcW8EpMoykrytc8XAngUB-rzunkzJi_IOCO-229jsVN70CxhDdS-osU4rGpQIkzQuTRuR4JE_mt7B-J8yEjzgeVal-HMcrwpwrd3DfdabLE/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+020.JPG" /></a>Our apartment building<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8XpBuitWnQgHt4nMcsCCU8GAMcFnaf_niNVAtZpraps33Q9CaTHv4NhJG3RqjscawflACSCNbpgx92b_8cqqoigS38kpXxrm2nb-0a7qQUW-bjre-67RM84rDGP7lCqDKBVj0gtf-XQ/s1600/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664211739242638034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8XpBuitWnQgHt4nMcsCCU8GAMcFnaf_niNVAtZpraps33Q9CaTHv4NhJG3RqjscawflACSCNbpgx92b_8cqqoigS38kpXxrm2nb-0a7qQUW-bjre-67RM84rDGP7lCqDKBVj0gtf-XQ/s400/20111012+Fall+and+Island+Festival+001.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-34812421326925189712011-09-25T11:16:00.001-07:002011-09-25T13:00:57.283-07:00Big Day!<div>Saturday was an especially busy day for us, but a wonderful day full of spirituality, service, friends, and lots of fun. We met at the institute at 6:00 A.M. to head to the Detroit Temple to do baptisms for the dead. What was so amazing was all the kids that showed up at that time of day to go to the temple. I just can't say enough about how wonderful the young people are in this area. After the temple, we all had breakfast or an early lunch, at Bob's Big Boy and then back to the institute to change clothes and meet back there for the big "Helping Hands" service project. There was quite a group that showed up for this and we were all assigned to various houses to help. Our group did lots of weeding and the highlight was the bee attack. Craig still has a major swollen arm from his sting. Later that night I had the priviledge of attending the General Women's Broadcast from Salt Lake City. It was so wonderful and I took three of the young ladies with me. I love to go to this meeting with my daughters so I was happy to have these girls go with me. I especially loved the talk given by President Uchtdorf about the forget-me-nots.<br /><br />All and all it was a great day and I think the best part of the day was getting to know these young people better and spending time with them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSUKOXhHvcPS0OLngdDJlOK7Z3_VPv0A0qTv3HjNYXJJp_g-tc4VdGnF7BWg8AyWq_P2JOMi_r7X8nEQ0CAnzs9yowpyUivkspYRv5Vw8fPhyphenhyphenQjUJI1TRBG0DvIcccddF5KsXZvc-4jg/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656364145367568258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSUKOXhHvcPS0OLngdDJlOK7Z3_VPv0A0qTv3HjNYXJJp_g-tc4VdGnF7BWg8AyWq_P2JOMi_r7X8nEQ0CAnzs9yowpyUivkspYRv5Vw8fPhyphenhyphenQjUJI1TRBG0DvIcccddF5KsXZvc-4jg/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+014.JPG" /></a> Getting ready to go with our new "Helping Hands" t-shirts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5vhzF1oUmZx91ctLEnmNSbLn8IwZBJhyphenhyphenmPy1kmV8OBIdIj4HHAd6JvneeSHaOJIeOAA7Io3lsafLbrAL0MFnkWim7NkHg_m99RtawD-7V3F49WNUgi1IlQEaDCmMv9nyejfT9wcg8Pk/s1600/20110925+Day+of+Service+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656364042844011618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5vhzF1oUmZx91ctLEnmNSbLn8IwZBJhyphenhyphenmPy1kmV8OBIdIj4HHAd6JvneeSHaOJIeOAA7Io3lsafLbrAL0MFnkWim7NkHg_m99RtawD-7V3F49WNUgi1IlQEaDCmMv9nyejfT9wcg8Pk/s400/20110925+Day+of+Service+025.JPG" /></a> Jacob and Stacie<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhizbVi4vb2jVxqy-WqX1a00ur0QIM4bd2QaPKQ6u28rY1wqIy6M2ZlSk9EGsOpxsyaM5Am0V4RLA3AjHf9d32WBdbiXZGoCGH7iy-wAhHyIEB9nLcxJDy3pK7iildGC3DhLQiXJelMA/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656363841691894674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhizbVi4vb2jVxqy-WqX1a00ur0QIM4bd2QaPKQ6u28rY1wqIy6M2ZlSk9EGsOpxsyaM5Am0V4RLA3AjHf9d32WBdbiXZGoCGH7iy-wAhHyIEB9nLcxJDy3pK7iildGC3DhLQiXJelMA/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+019.JPG" /></a> Abbey and Catherine<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V3qoPrtpYPKEZYboE7BI5YLr-a3Q4GeH00zxYyoKc5_6DhzrZ9bZchYO8URs87CdRXD93cWSUGAC5hJ7xKtbtxN3wb6ORSAFz9ySgMU2aHQ34Zd2BFihFStYYXRVLckVZ_BC2iB4hYU/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656363614101348594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V3qoPrtpYPKEZYboE7BI5YLr-a3Q4GeH00zxYyoKc5_6DhzrZ9bZchYO8URs87CdRXD93cWSUGAC5hJ7xKtbtxN3wb6ORSAFz9ySgMU2aHQ34Zd2BFihFStYYXRVLckVZ_BC2iB4hYU/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+016.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTGOErY40Qc14smDfeS99nghVNs7DdtzCF51_YjwTQon-WAxHrgWYHyUCBJ3ZrtkCdc_GzYzEIA47l5XQwpuwEUIVUynEtcXZj6dvrjMJb3cp_CmliXFhyphenhyphenV4VU7IZ3wei07e5gxmmx1k/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656363447653677106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTGOErY40Qc14smDfeS99nghVNs7DdtzCF51_YjwTQon-WAxHrgWYHyUCBJ3ZrtkCdc_GzYzEIA47l5XQwpuwEUIVUynEtcXZj6dvrjMJb3cp_CmliXFhyphenhyphenV4VU7IZ3wei07e5gxmmx1k/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+001.JPG" /></a> The menu from last week's Friday Forum<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3gpBwakGRvDmOm553Wa-AD3zWfNh5a4CfuJKgp6hf5AmkDrtO_jvlPIp1wpaHzTVv5xOApeLpTmex_9t3CVctBvQcreA3G08Tr9E6JqUOfwSTEg1wL0feKsqiNh48DHmY4UDgZ9pbo4/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656363291852636770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3gpBwakGRvDmOm553Wa-AD3zWfNh5a4CfuJKgp6hf5AmkDrtO_jvlPIp1wpaHzTVv5xOApeLpTmex_9t3CVctBvQcreA3G08Tr9E6JqUOfwSTEg1wL0feKsqiNh48DHmY4UDgZ9pbo4/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+002.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamalr7RtsXv5roZ7C_xHAvH3Z4FQlraoR08k-aB89SS7aTBlHDU9nl4jkvHeSVmpQYwB7nfjvMBw-EtI0n9ZXY3bs8DX2IXqOTjkIkOkXuS6Hngpn_Ss-RPm4Dmuwhf8qYNqeHAsYLQs/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656388919254964770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamalr7RtsXv5roZ7C_xHAvH3Z4FQlraoR08k-aB89SS7aTBlHDU9nl4jkvHeSVmpQYwB7nfjvMBw-EtI0n9ZXY3bs8DX2IXqOTjkIkOkXuS6Hngpn_Ss-RPm4Dmuwhf8qYNqeHAsYLQs/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2z1h1MO_YsSK2xaXy4yZtw3aOjHwiAsAI4luHH5VsYs1xnDX-r32Ax-J7NnOsuKOyzTSNGVujCW1-dWOXmW-qeSqdOECkERWrfB0SwTQJhr5dVR6v-Y_LVz0deP6QeNHOoiThOyil10/s1600/20110924+Day+of+Service+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656388774534399314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2z1h1MO_YsSK2xaXy4yZtw3aOjHwiAsAI4luHH5VsYs1xnDX-r32Ax-J7NnOsuKOyzTSNGVujCW1-dWOXmW-qeSqdOECkERWrfB0SwTQJhr5dVR6v-Y_LVz0deP6QeNHOoiThOyil10/s400/20110924+Day+of+Service+003.JPG" /></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-14934507518301518062011-09-21T07:27:00.000-07:002011-09-21T16:43:02.572-07:00Reflections....As we complete our first year of service as missionaries, it seems like a good idea to reflect on the past 12 months. Just getting our affairs in order to be able to serve in this way was something of a challenge, but with 4 large storage units packed full of our "stuff" and our home of 35 years leased out (actually we're now on the second lease of our home), we've spent fall, winter, spring and summer here in East Lansing. We are now heading back into fall, and the fall season is beautiful in Michigan. We will be here well into winter, and are scheduled to return home in March of 2012.<br /><br />We were very excited to be visited by Tiffany, Eric, David and Grace. We all had a great time while they were here. We also were visited, and later able to visit, our friends Dean and Marjorie Cook, now Elder and Sister Cook, serving in Kirtland OH. They will be heading back to California in October.<br /><br />Probably the most difficult thing of all has been being away from our wonderful family for so long. Every day we miss every one of our six children, three sons in law, three daughters in law, and 20 grandchildren. Thanks to Skype, Google Chat, and Facebook, we have been able to get some "face time" with them over the last year.<br /><br />Despite the longing to be with our children and grandchildren, this has been and remains one of the greatest experiences of our lives. It has been a period of great personal and spiritual growth for both Karen and I. What a wonderful thing it is to get to know so many of these fine young folks, and have the privilege to teach them correct principles as taught by the Savior and the prophets through the restored Gospel. It is a bonus to be able to share with them experiences from our own lives that might help them as they face difficult choices and decisions.<br /><br />Each day we learn new things. As we prepare for classes we feel the spirit of the Lord in helping us to prepare and understand that which we should teach. As we teach, we enjoy the exchange of thoughts, ideas, and truths in the classroom. I never cease to be amazed also at the things we are taught by the students as we learn of the challenges and successes in their lives. We are fortunate to have a very nice office in the Institute building, and there we have many impromptu discussions with the kids. They are truly amazing and we have made many great friendsips among them.<br /><br />We truly do love those we are with here. I am reminded of the words of the Savior to his disciples found in John 13:35...<br /><br />"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."<br /><br /><br /><br />Following are some photos with descriptions of some of our activities and travels in the last month....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLBZWoerJosKYYRajeIuFTv_wZEdFmqxUDlUU1bUlKwTxkxFLWglYFHVKnuAE6Zhv784XD0tfYi7sXNkrAQ7mVgd7LxVoklIESuEf-tNvqQzwPzdAxJzXX3r7SySVOYziTjJY60-WNQba/s1600/3+120110826+LugNuts+Game+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654912496316115826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLBZWoerJosKYYRajeIuFTv_wZEdFmqxUDlUU1bUlKwTxkxFLWglYFHVKnuAE6Zhv784XD0tfYi7sXNkrAQ7mVgd7LxVoklIESuEf-tNvqQzwPzdAxJzXX3r7SySVOYziTjJY60-WNQba/s400/3+120110826+LugNuts+Game+005.JPG" /></a> Lancing "Lug Nuts" game. They are a AAAaaa (how many "a's" down to farm teams go?) team for some big league Montreal team. Fun game...we lost big time. We went with some of our friends. That's Emily, Klea, Justin, Clayton and Michelle sitting behind me.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwCqjUAnkYCIE6fF87VgmgS988T8kT64tr9mGuOJyp1rvmPz_x_JpRft7Kg2gQGTcItIEb99MAc317e-b4CVI5JFptK7QgeYEn8BsfUXFSsReeMNSaCrLr2K46YlVNquOYfyt2XVEFCMF/s1600/1+20110826+LugNuts+Game+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654912429305701346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwCqjUAnkYCIE6fF87VgmgS988T8kT64tr9mGuOJyp1rvmPz_x_JpRft7Kg2gQGTcItIEb99MAc317e-b4CVI5JFptK7QgeYEn8BsfUXFSsReeMNSaCrLr2K46YlVNquOYfyt2XVEFCMF/s400/1+20110826+LugNuts+Game+015.JPG" /></a> Justin, Clayton and Klea.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZX1uV1jw30-SLbI-Poa1URMk4vnjKVLoGT5pEAq5Y3n-0CHhNQbKLejWbG1xhZjoSqf83-3Nf4bNxQMmFxuV23fnfg5bczYtl9q1df659A6lM14zcESNvSRi7uNTF10j-7K2pmua_mqM/s1600/2+20110826+LugNuts+Game+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654912366934994802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZX1uV1jw30-SLbI-Poa1URMk4vnjKVLoGT5pEAq5Y3n-0CHhNQbKLejWbG1xhZjoSqf83-3Nf4bNxQMmFxuV23fnfg5bczYtl9q1df659A6lM14zcESNvSRi7uNTF10j-7K2pmua_mqM/s400/2+20110826+LugNuts+Game+016.JPG" /></a> Michelle<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq8WbB4JJLDtPzcSqqIDWALQurfnyz2P7juF-DK-7ceA-n8wZ-nxAh4XA6ijH4pyVH3GKM1SUNBZY5aoh1arWnQ9A6fKbTgLXBC10d3XiMlmQsAbnvcfYmopL6kr34kPvqhUGy8TsBmzo/s1600/4+20110829+FHE+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654912162970954386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq8WbB4JJLDtPzcSqqIDWALQurfnyz2P7juF-DK-7ceA-n8wZ-nxAh4XA6ijH4pyVH3GKM1SUNBZY5aoh1arWnQ9A6fKbTgLXBC10d3XiMlmQsAbnvcfYmopL6kr34kPvqhUGy8TsBmzo/s400/4+20110829+FHE+005.JPG" /></a> Family Home Evening activity - Watersliding behind the Living Center....so fast he's totally blurred!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyy4bF8IOdnLaw7tZZxsugRFwlm8zjWvKF3shG_CgyzhP23fzUwwRtWLSiCChkubuyHdMDAlQ2vTN0D7JsIRIYhhX6H8dLCdYWTgt5nfkknLAefsqF6mAw5zAMwiScmOlniErl8gGXW4Ym/s1600/6+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654911746640430162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyy4bF8IOdnLaw7tZZxsugRFwlm8zjWvKF3shG_CgyzhP23fzUwwRtWLSiCChkubuyHdMDAlQ2vTN0D7JsIRIYhhX6H8dLCdYWTgt5nfkknLAefsqF6mAw5zAMwiScmOlniErl8gGXW4Ym/s400/6+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+002.JPG" /></a>Eric and I at the harbor in Saugatuk...a cool little town south of Holland.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy94Nvspa3cvTASfxB27y65rSz8IrtT1tqDQNhB4Cbmc9m3MRA5-UmwgG48JzJPCzHBd1MuHwu4Db2-7j8lN_L8SyIojCmHS75p6h9_UUt6ZuL7-C7ZuFJ2cC7zURVSyyRvfJODdB8dQi/s1600/7+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+149.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654911546232894354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy94Nvspa3cvTASfxB27y65rSz8IrtT1tqDQNhB4Cbmc9m3MRA5-UmwgG48JzJPCzHBd1MuHwu4Db2-7j8lN_L8SyIojCmHS75p6h9_UUt6ZuL7-C7ZuFJ2cC7zURVSyyRvfJODdB8dQi/s400/7+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+149.JPG" /></a> Eric and Karen...we really had a great time when he visited over Labor Day weekend.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEATDdqxanwW8ZJtMzieSsjyAqcygYZEfFZsxDhWv0nt2sKsG-STo8kFDhh0Jsvo4upPEUgQEhRGowlJYoWg6m9ZIpZ8Suf7moKMQ5jLjg5H0rYnkgpuNMZjaO25GWkUjWvhjWK9YyVivN/s1600/9+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654911077979430978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEATDdqxanwW8ZJtMzieSsjyAqcygYZEfFZsxDhWv0nt2sKsG-STo8kFDhh0Jsvo4upPEUgQEhRGowlJYoWg6m9ZIpZ8Suf7moKMQ5jLjg5H0rYnkgpuNMZjaO25GWkUjWvhjWK9YyVivN/s400/9+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+049.JPG" /></a>Now I'm really starting to miss sailing! This is the channel out of Holland Harbor.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hc61wrK4hr1C6eT0AxQxwF1oUotsFGjwg2LD4ZFk3G6UWViuriMzF11jMUtjFhMq65NNbkMBhfvQX7yi_TaOoTDh8gALiOvqp95eKYzrzJuhC8Uf6rqJput-I7_xKNdwfS5Qb0SKOU6A/s1600/10+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+174.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654910898367146162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hc61wrK4hr1C6eT0AxQxwF1oUotsFGjwg2LD4ZFk3G6UWViuriMzF11jMUtjFhMq65NNbkMBhfvQX7yi_TaOoTDh8gALiOvqp95eKYzrzJuhC8Uf6rqJput-I7_xKNdwfS5Qb0SKOU6A/s400/10+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+174.JPG" /></a> The "Keewatin"... an early 1900's great lakes passenger steamship beached at Saugatuk.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx9xkriTQ0kI0iWLTdtEhw1G-d9FDwA7ZSrILD3166G_xt6uhlkzldMQ0WlpQ1YQetAkexQow9i6Lw8r2F_j2ny4_XQ9sQV4mz7LHbQcv6Lmei6tLEzHoQjS7lZv_cuvlU-Jf9AbsjWUZ/s1600/11+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+195.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654910683801614786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx9xkriTQ0kI0iWLTdtEhw1G-d9FDwA7ZSrILD3166G_xt6uhlkzldMQ0WlpQ1YQetAkexQow9i6Lw8r2F_j2ny4_XQ9sQV4mz7LHbQcv6Lmei6tLEzHoQjS7lZv_cuvlU-Jf9AbsjWUZ/s400/11+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+195.JPG" /></a> Hey, I don't look like a tourist!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZX6y_s4PKMHY-0PjG8-pDr14vpbvrn9BWqnQc8OjIB0J17qUcutN_zcbsah9cXLQiyYnIPdzQo1zmuuxeLUAAhaVTrpWl01zlr1a7k349daGKr_p9xCOHh3JGteePoye22V-BLgCLQPS/s1600/12+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+196.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654910369059648562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZX6y_s4PKMHY-0PjG8-pDr14vpbvrn9BWqnQc8OjIB0J17qUcutN_zcbsah9cXLQiyYnIPdzQo1zmuuxeLUAAhaVTrpWl01zlr1a7k349daGKr_p9xCOHh3JGteePoye22V-BLgCLQPS/s400/12+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+196.JPG" /></a>I'm pretty sure one of these signs must point the way to Half Moon Bay....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqZxiCJK0SCaa6AomEyZi1QsCEZB0hzmnkxm3m7kWB2EbKRc5dsWYtjKqGV0oF4WDZxsV4EI4jrFKDsyw8vZPZO-br-YLIduNTQY_Pn_Jxo-90TKLtWxuqTLGIT1Vfv-UnRBh8ixYObLA/s1600/13+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654910153717236834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqZxiCJK0SCaa6AomEyZi1QsCEZB0hzmnkxm3m7kWB2EbKRc5dsWYtjKqGV0oF4WDZxsV4EI4jrFKDsyw8vZPZO-br-YLIduNTQY_Pn_Jxo-90TKLtWxuqTLGIT1Vfv-UnRBh8ixYObLA/s400/13+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+001.JPG" /></a>9-11 Display in front of our Stake Center...many American flags, very impressive!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYR61xRO4uC4C6WKyX82a6QVaBgRP-GKv3GJERK4Jozr1AdERiHCG7sZDVN_6DQR6awdDEnA5yi7spnTsbQ6VV3C6twfbVcj7CoLO4ClRXmDgbuBxIf3GD4-LeP_z4HCqlQfP5lmyl2ILF/s1600/14+Bicycles.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654909831953001362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYR61xRO4uC4C6WKyX82a6QVaBgRP-GKv3GJERK4Jozr1AdERiHCG7sZDVN_6DQR6awdDEnA5yi7spnTsbQ6VV3C6twfbVcj7CoLO4ClRXmDgbuBxIf3GD4-LeP_z4HCqlQfP5lmyl2ILF/s400/14+Bicycles.JPG" /></a> School is starting at MSU...literally of thousands of bicycles on campus!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4S5wYq6dzsr0ykkL59_vyV97n-Es3LwvOwQ0KaAHNhQHLRo9vu-UA3JpS7b4BzLh4qGCO44pksCkQlVeNTCQnbGeE9IW2tVM08eBfY-yHvlSDbFWBQ9vreJMwwOXmoX4aOfvBXtHrjkus/s1600/15+Frat+Party+1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654909743571996290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4S5wYq6dzsr0ykkL59_vyV97n-Es3LwvOwQ0KaAHNhQHLRo9vu-UA3JpS7b4BzLh4qGCO44pksCkQlVeNTCQnbGeE9IW2tVM08eBfY-yHvlSDbFWBQ9vreJMwwOXmoX4aOfvBXtHrjkus/s400/15+Frat+Party+1.JPG" /></a>And it looks like the fraternity thing is getting into full swing....</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPFT3-C1ZzapTlFxphEAeyVBnRLZZb9xH8uIT4gj8VGbQbD-JG18RjzuOm76qzNKxp5qm9kZh_VQlPXO4aqCsG__Uu3FoxEKPgyYsCCPopmGFwthNN74sIZhF7TRObD84uLqfXly8Qv5W/s1600/16+20110826+LugNuts+Game+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654909654934135506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPFT3-C1ZzapTlFxphEAeyVBnRLZZb9xH8uIT4gj8VGbQbD-JG18RjzuOm76qzNKxp5qm9kZh_VQlPXO4aqCsG__Uu3FoxEKPgyYsCCPopmGFwthNN74sIZhF7TRObD84uLqfXly8Qv5W/s400/16+20110826+LugNuts+Game+022.JPG" /></a>The River Walk on the Grand River in downtown Lansing.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvCJlHAxDZtwP4Q06KMoyktz99VEq-mH7gQ4ECTOtVCkgzCtqs_5UI3Z1PAmjZHThgo-RdSovXXkxMpmMyvO7w7QESMQWwG85Ows0xEaitry57azhhNygKBNDurSxnpSE4j1zZYP1dlUP/s1600/17Garden+Man.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654909535860022290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvCJlHAxDZtwP4Q06KMoyktz99VEq-mH7gQ4ECTOtVCkgzCtqs_5UI3Z1PAmjZHThgo-RdSovXXkxMpmMyvO7w7QESMQWwG85Ows0xEaitry57azhhNygKBNDurSxnpSE4j1zZYP1dlUP/s400/17Garden+Man.JPG" /></a>Our friendly "plant man" now has a new set of flowered eyes!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmadjVxsQ8gc6PoAKQFOyTx9otzF7Ifoe8pkPn30P9-DEiQobbzldrqdYNn0wjzHoknjC9HDwfddReRLSDk_rSv8T5qCRJh5F4YT3R4DJpmC2JYIps4J1FuSxoI7XP_BkIuvyr-e_LHTJV/s1600/18+peacock+1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654909461331952898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmadjVxsQ8gc6PoAKQFOyTx9otzF7Ifoe8pkPn30P9-DEiQobbzldrqdYNn0wjzHoknjC9HDwfddReRLSDk_rSv8T5qCRJh5F4YT3R4DJpmC2JYIps4J1FuSxoI7XP_BkIuvyr-e_LHTJV/s400/18+peacock+1.JPG" /></a>Truly amazing peacock made of greenery and flowers by the Horticulture Building. About 15' high!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Grand Haven, MI...Home of the annual Salmon Festival and Derby! Great Fun....</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ClhwbNQwq35zbDLdB8UjR5g79tUvfqkK1KFkjlmD0b-NvhOlLg9pk5Y0Nf-fUtwhsUyD1nwbcuixwLaB5VvUcq9sfKgc3pPu8EGqjA3a7vAeJ9Ob-qC0O6RtN_lCcAjFLubgnpW9FJhn/s1600/22+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654904012387536834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ClhwbNQwq35zbDLdB8UjR5g79tUvfqkK1KFkjlmD0b-NvhOlLg9pk5Y0Nf-fUtwhsUyD1nwbcuixwLaB5VvUcq9sfKgc3pPu8EGqjA3a7vAeJ9Ob-qC0O6RtN_lCcAjFLubgnpW9FJhn/s400/22+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+039.JPG" /></a><br />Stomping the grapes at the Festival...that's NOT us in the barrels!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYkBqueC1VRhOj8y6bH1hJOGdZJQw1JeabHySi3Rj2TyNh1TcmH_6JWTT0sh2C4hnQ9F949bt5stkCqjzaZyHRJhbDakdjHA8326Hk_DYYm2gTjHBFhU_rb7wDFMn80WmtFa3OduZ9Baj/s1600/24+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654908126782113762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYkBqueC1VRhOj8y6bH1hJOGdZJQw1JeabHySi3Rj2TyNh1TcmH_6JWTT0sh2C4hnQ9F949bt5stkCqjzaZyHRJhbDakdjHA8326Hk_DYYm2gTjHBFhU_rb7wDFMn80WmtFa3OduZ9Baj/s400/24+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+044.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Entry in the Salmon Derby. This one was about 19 pounds...the winner was 57 pounds!</div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pr7IF2N3FwAPJ-FtJWrjO4XrXr8AmwM-6P_a5PnU-Dd03uD22XuEfkF-56O7G4miZ7h-L4S4DKHWLef6u0vxaEIzkblYopH496YQ7-fx9kyFoalCeQvi5_Ui3IxLuIzec3jsFNdF01u_/s1600/21+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654901954616705762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pr7IF2N3FwAPJ-FtJWrjO4XrXr8AmwM-6P_a5PnU-Dd03uD22XuEfkF-56O7G4miZ7h-L4S4DKHWLef6u0vxaEIzkblYopH496YQ7-fx9kyFoalCeQvi5_Ui3IxLuIzec3jsFNdF01u_/s400/21+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+024.JPG" /></a><br />Unloading boats for the Salmon Derby.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj1_83vxJTiLSIeNXArqXV6QF4uf2aOsqRxpHpD6piMqK2tGZ83g2VqY2bjFyWaxBEWqjloYmsFL0rq7o_xq0hUzgLq3lLz1KyrHpp6T9jKhhai_-Qk6dRtnAlk7Zt-jzeZIqwjnUCUQo/s1600/20+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654902302478983746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj1_83vxJTiLSIeNXArqXV6QF4uf2aOsqRxpHpD6piMqK2tGZ83g2VqY2bjFyWaxBEWqjloYmsFL0rq7o_xq0hUzgLq3lLz1KyrHpp6T9jKhhai_-Qk6dRtnAlk7Zt-jzeZIqwjnUCUQo/s400/20+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+021.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>These hand painted "fish" signs were on all the street corners in Grand Haven for the festival.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrITN4B0B_JIE1DAgsX-02TGVLCjWlmVanCw_p6WLSIIfJVP4ZYx5140drckmB7L0xnkU0_GzefQsG18fusuo5T8vylCxnHe4TveWKedXo9R8IfQbD7JVd1A7DQgbdQlzva7bzUeK14wcw/s1600/23+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654907038850969730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrITN4B0B_JIE1DAgsX-02TGVLCjWlmVanCw_p6WLSIIfJVP4ZYx5140drckmB7L0xnkU0_GzefQsG18fusuo5T8vylCxnHe4TveWKedXo9R8IfQbD7JVd1A7DQgbdQlzva7bzUeK14wcw/s400/23+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110917+040.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhsMh8RZif1XLxKUpcHbWsbL_1m43Ok0dcAojuC-WELfg347Wc-fnv3kDrL_CKJ4jc0zerOw6oQ0AZqHUQek_ckNYX_eUNcjHvmF_EbAn2iimYAIJEVgRYzq-z_T4t2mtoepKoPk4k_J9/s1600/8+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+013.JPG"></a>And now, for an update on our Lighthouses....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpPWnapNHjCokEwwKUszD35kSFt5c-yy6oWgC7f01NzoBAWbmZq0D_lYlIQSOhBgEwd4F4hqpRWiP2itVDT4I6GeOxw2idbDCdEGFXJx10R_xtjkUc1Uc2z6ZFrvLTjuKqnqsphQ41MXC/s1600/25+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654899868302173554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpPWnapNHjCokEwwKUszD35kSFt5c-yy6oWgC7f01NzoBAWbmZq0D_lYlIQSOhBgEwd4F4hqpRWiP2itVDT4I6GeOxw2idbDCdEGFXJx10R_xtjkUc1Uc2z6ZFrvLTjuKqnqsphQ41MXC/s400/25+20110903+Holland+and+Saugatuk+020.JPG" /></a> "Big Red"... popular lighthouse in Holland, on Lake Michigan. Built in the 1870's. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ruvehYb1JhLri71ZeXJjqN-ld5LuL84V-VfQE7YAmjx6lsoAvJKx_Eo9rjEwTLXhWtyqlChNhy3O6b6CAJ8H1LGRBSTLHRMeE_uPRyoY-oC-G7XwIeMVemL3GeqzTl8YqlExUsXhcqHU/s1600/26+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654921182710097554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ruvehYb1JhLri71ZeXJjqN-ld5LuL84V-VfQE7YAmjx6lsoAvJKx_Eo9rjEwTLXhWtyqlChNhy3O6b6CAJ8H1LGRBSTLHRMeE_uPRyoY-oC-G7XwIeMVemL3GeqzTl8YqlExUsXhcqHU/s400/26+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+009.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Cleveland West Harbor Lighthouse on Lake Erie.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTn_qQtJSBwBFq6WBs0rctTHJwfP2HU0vvtx8pluftW6sjkiSmOrDcHtp05ciXm52b0STV_cZ2_N_j6m1l-2mUCbyERxDHiKjtcHYbW-9TZl3_vk_fNPkvrAOGnRYcMS0k48hW6lA6kjA/s1600/27+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654898817490267298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTn_qQtJSBwBFq6WBs0rctTHJwfP2HU0vvtx8pluftW6sjkiSmOrDcHtp05ciXm52b0STV_cZ2_N_j6m1l-2mUCbyERxDHiKjtcHYbW-9TZl3_vk_fNPkvrAOGnRYcMS0k48hW6lA6kjA/s400/27+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+021.JPG" /></a> Muskegon lighthouses from the ship channel. The last time we were here was in winter with SERIOUS ice and waves! Beautiful in the fall.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMhPnDh0oWGJt4I6vPdfW2Mf9aWKFexaI2KOFiioi5tLE8bJtOy57AM3WFcb3cxxXRTVJU2yqFrpc3Cs-HqizVL-6CkCNt1_BXOJFOHRHJucd7QcmhrSVsFBL_wWrMDfy3YZRamc7ey8x/s1600/28+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654898297969219458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMhPnDh0oWGJt4I6vPdfW2Mf9aWKFexaI2KOFiioi5tLE8bJtOy57AM3WFcb3cxxXRTVJU2yqFrpc3Cs-HqizVL-6CkCNt1_BXOJFOHRHJucd7QcmhrSVsFBL_wWrMDfy3YZRamc7ey8x/s400/28+Grand+Haven+and+Muskegon+20110918+026.JPG" /></a>Muskegon lighthouses showing connecting "catwalk" for winter access in severe storms. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-84093550778313554342011-09-01T13:57:00.000-07:002011-09-01T16:04:07.551-07:00Come Take a Walk With UsIt is unbelievable around here right now as the students all return to school. In the two huge dorms across the street from us hundreds, yes hundreds, of cars, U-Hauls, vans, and trucks are being unloaded with all the paraphernalia that a college student needs. I even saw a big white Wal-Mart bus that I assume was there to take the students back and forth to Wal-Mart to pick up those last minute details to outfit a dorm room. We have had a ton of kids move into the Living Center here this week as well so things are really lively. The start of any school year is lots of fun and there is always a bit of excitement in the air. We are thrilled to have the returning students back and are looking forward to meeting all the new ones. Fall institute classes begin this week so we are back in full swing again.
<br />The woods behind our apartment sound like a full on jungle at night. The woods are beautiful and obviously home to all kinds of wildlife. From time to time the ward has a bonfire in a cleared area.
<br />We try to walk nearly every day, and one of our favorite walks is through the various gardens on the MSU campus. The grounds were so stark and barren all winter that I could never imagine how much beauty was hidden beneath the blankets of snow and ice. The grass is so green and there are acres and acres of it everywhere. (They have some real serious lawn movers around here.) Flowers bloom everywhere and all kinds and many varieties and they are ever changing because of the seasons. We have adopted these gardens as our own while we are here and we love to check on them daily to make sure the gardeners are doing their job. Come take a walk with us through our gardens.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLHGTOd52WDIHbNWL25upcXf6RBvjPjJj5R4fBwjaZCD0zT1LX5_rI5HcjwYqmF3KdmtlTBDuJzNR6VlCwt23CVW7nERHr5PCBr0uihFSBcyv9VGEcc43ZN6MYmqjoCL-mO17IBd83zY/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647504427235227810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLHGTOd52WDIHbNWL25upcXf6RBvjPjJj5R4fBwjaZCD0zT1LX5_rI5HcjwYqmF3KdmtlTBDuJzNR6VlCwt23CVW7nERHr5PCBr0uihFSBcyv9VGEcc43ZN6MYmqjoCL-mO17IBd83zY/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+001.JPG" /></a> The entrance to the Children's Garden.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3qmZFrZ7Vn_geFXBP_RQM4yVx5NPwFtZ6-azUwXWO3JIllrr2MbC0MQ5eVKhmzUepPPYLA9FgmzZP0NfDVRgYQlShNbtDvlsOkJdPyrjRGMX81f9jT3-u7tw__cSdEG5fx91q8qhf90/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647503065642071362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3qmZFrZ7Vn_geFXBP_RQM4yVx5NPwFtZ6-azUwXWO3JIllrr2MbC0MQ5eVKhmzUepPPYLA9FgmzZP0NfDVRgYQlShNbtDvlsOkJdPyrjRGMX81f9jT3-u7tw__cSdEG5fx91q8qhf90/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+003.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcrk0liDjai3PZNGJ4AUODlSqtrgVqC7_e837UEdzt6PPkoW6gcUeuxHtjoUTpbJCjDGJyLbzR3ANHzI1z35wEvakpZNUcvebwCU3CfANh_yVzdm9bbWeSBcuuMJIuFcLKFNwrnSmaDA/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502999956977746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcrk0liDjai3PZNGJ4AUODlSqtrgVqC7_e837UEdzt6PPkoW6gcUeuxHtjoUTpbJCjDGJyLbzR3ANHzI1z35wEvakpZNUcvebwCU3CfANh_yVzdm9bbWeSBcuuMJIuFcLKFNwrnSmaDA/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+004.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgn8wJHfQ3vkQaspeC7mH3DqgiixGUnSi1rn3jnoq614cYm_2K6fA0mIwYzJ7hO_u1phqM31Y5gAD5P2wEdqjRtEcD9jPiY_Nl3YLghN-srr0nm7VHPcYG23FSzapjpwUnL-tyU70pZE/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502897312174466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgn8wJHfQ3vkQaspeC7mH3DqgiixGUnSi1rn3jnoq614cYm_2K6fA0mIwYzJ7hO_u1phqM31Y5gAD5P2wEdqjRtEcD9jPiY_Nl3YLghN-srr0nm7VHPcYG23FSzapjpwUnL-tyU70pZE/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+006.JPG" /></a> Peanuts growing
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvU3r3_1EIt-xMK-QKCfHb6c4nkBIdK_lluCSWcEazv7YViLzbHUr0QJzEMciQXmGhrdaIsIMHPh5bptDuasdyAPQ6wT5QZgjNon-cw7i-MVz8T-TGXBEbTG8rceK2aDatx5favZt4Hc/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502831968937554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvU3r3_1EIt-xMK-QKCfHb6c4nkBIdK_lluCSWcEazv7YViLzbHUr0QJzEMciQXmGhrdaIsIMHPh5bptDuasdyAPQ6wT5QZgjNon-cw7i-MVz8T-TGXBEbTG8rceK2aDatx5favZt4Hc/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+009.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVBOg_qQJsy4Lm623uh-qWKSyFw6NyGvkT9cMeXO3ZzKGpizThaj3DRy8IDqxCtn8Uj6AUl_QjxtCZqAoBGxnetWyAn5J9jtOf1JLdC9oerJubo-_GkuhIiReGwPn5JdpviFPtVfCOMk/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502753566159170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVBOg_qQJsy4Lm623uh-qWKSyFw6NyGvkT9cMeXO3ZzKGpizThaj3DRy8IDqxCtn8Uj6AUl_QjxtCZqAoBGxnetWyAn5J9jtOf1JLdC9oerJubo-_GkuhIiReGwPn5JdpviFPtVfCOMk/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+011.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3tk6wp0ZH8f_1ug76IG4kOvnolfQAsHA1wU2ycus7zy3BV_q_LEZ0uIhEEiNwsN2TPjVelANvV9Nv4NFTmkXNDAtDJz_zMzHby2MjSc4kY64XEzHSSQVL484U2289y7YnVHP8UM1lgc/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502688061451298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3tk6wp0ZH8f_1ug76IG4kOvnolfQAsHA1wU2ycus7zy3BV_q_LEZ0uIhEEiNwsN2TPjVelANvV9Nv4NFTmkXNDAtDJz_zMzHby2MjSc4kY64XEzHSSQVL484U2289y7YnVHP8UM1lgc/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+016.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemucOr3Fui9Qx3onqsAXVFMhNJlgO1fExzlRq7BGjciBXpZs0dXnJKCm_wteFMdWSt2amRLn2K0as5gbsglzrmBJslLCaeXjPtNVmyZSIMA_-ucQM9I9A86Mh2fMgoBFfC1NA5bWtYFU/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502593860025586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemucOr3Fui9Qx3onqsAXVFMhNJlgO1fExzlRq7BGjciBXpZs0dXnJKCm_wteFMdWSt2amRLn2K0as5gbsglzrmBJslLCaeXjPtNVmyZSIMA_-ucQM9I9A86Mh2fMgoBFfC1NA5bWtYFU/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+019.JPG" /></a> Entrance to the rose garden.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tcdPpuUMZndoUHz1CCFxcVKTPZj28DhGtfS0ZaU_JK4K2m_T-GlmA1QtnsKHVMQ6ep_XOkM5KhsSTnj4AxaNSVPyoUZGm9ypPGFZjI9gBD_eZQpb_78T9lemFBjd1tf37h3uPbOmt3A/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502487697958978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tcdPpuUMZndoUHz1CCFxcVKTPZj28DhGtfS0ZaU_JK4K2m_T-GlmA1QtnsKHVMQ6ep_XOkM5KhsSTnj4AxaNSVPyoUZGm9ypPGFZjI9gBD_eZQpb_78T9lemFBjd1tf37h3uPbOmt3A/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+022.JPG" /></a> We see lots of these plants in Michigan.
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInypwlSVUhxEw9h6YFutNzmWvPw-HZB6dN0cjXFP6cSFIf-B5hWsxLkor3twQ7aEkmPb862T-Q9QuTFaAj7MTJT_rEzgcD41-HnJvrDej6ycc4z0lyQFZ4-WV-K4XscEQtZREr9JS_nQ/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502396944742354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInypwlSVUhxEw9h6YFutNzmWvPw-HZB6dN0cjXFP6cSFIf-B5hWsxLkor3twQ7aEkmPb862T-Q9QuTFaAj7MTJT_rEzgcD41-HnJvrDej6ycc4z0lyQFZ4-WV-K4XscEQtZREr9JS_nQ/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+024.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3PhGI_BRNpZXAhFUtJMGW-oPozCqDXLA49xgX4KWd4RLR_eCbuwifJpuaE8HzpybGlchHSwkF-I3XD3cWEKaC_Bl-Xr-WLekIC01WLHhlAGNRKPMrcuY50ucsUWG6k2Q_7l8ydNrBGU/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647502294504483794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3PhGI_BRNpZXAhFUtJMGW-oPozCqDXLA49xgX4KWd4RLR_eCbuwifJpuaE8HzpybGlchHSwkF-I3XD3cWEKaC_Bl-Xr-WLekIC01WLHhlAGNRKPMrcuY50ucsUWG6k2Q_7l8ydNrBGU/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+025.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwjkh6ZOXquMTv7FJu4_ldydw2NB3XXmeZa4oBJUKibdr0mmOV4fsZb7hKyicyYJKWpsSvit-GUJPif7v8U_cMJ0Nnz2DhTyi_Wetpe5Oyzb9uPQdOPn4IFu1TI6LE_U195O5jtDKh9s/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647501246996854002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwjkh6ZOXquMTv7FJu4_ldydw2NB3XXmeZa4oBJUKibdr0mmOV4fsZb7hKyicyYJKWpsSvit-GUJPif7v8U_cMJ0Nnz2DhTyi_Wetpe5Oyzb9uPQdOPn4IFu1TI6LE_U195O5jtDKh9s/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+033.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeFky_ovMf7lFTlM6C8wCA5vXFZcKYRnC6I8iLOP9CSOS9m6kPEra1okfp6ALJd8Hfz_pRE3n0M7ywuqTHfz9qzdf0qPCgceyQrLvRlMUzRrgZ_XZF9zd4kF8iG-WBeFmBVtIDy3dLNc/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500974940563378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeFky_ovMf7lFTlM6C8wCA5vXFZcKYRnC6I8iLOP9CSOS9m6kPEra1okfp6ALJd8Hfz_pRE3n0M7ywuqTHfz9qzdf0qPCgceyQrLvRlMUzRrgZ_XZF9zd4kF8iG-WBeFmBVtIDy3dLNc/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+043.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn14s4B9VUZcG_GWvKbEs2fzvSkIUN3Lmr5zm1mWe5Bp0SrDLFvuy5Bu7UkTg756f0ON_Xf-Gv9LUFOq95iv5eZB8X5YHrMt3hJiS_s1i3tZA38O3Byi1ELybDOKBsXM8f62XHbvz6FJM/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500886383768946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn14s4B9VUZcG_GWvKbEs2fzvSkIUN3Lmr5zm1mWe5Bp0SrDLFvuy5Bu7UkTg756f0ON_Xf-Gv9LUFOq95iv5eZB8X5YHrMt3hJiS_s1i3tZA38O3Byi1ELybDOKBsXM8f62XHbvz6FJM/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+051.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJEDeX0s6vwFk_inCOHbZ04J3t4hS3vaSXT9xTGqVN3TZ_2sWcgrAPlwyzSYBD1tzL1PZJotJJdltMRUjKr8ZEMyKqkElZLTKxzxYz8m7jMZjvLHUO3uLyMRoCllAVP3QwbQYTEgO1io/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500755370713634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJEDeX0s6vwFk_inCOHbZ04J3t4hS3vaSXT9xTGqVN3TZ_2sWcgrAPlwyzSYBD1tzL1PZJotJJdltMRUjKr8ZEMyKqkElZLTKxzxYz8m7jMZjvLHUO3uLyMRoCllAVP3QwbQYTEgO1io/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+052.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q3POFmF-mMKkkkoy17dQ-kB99tuh6EUZ0fjhWLd21MeUkCaU3tyKmuuXKxRbbLUN2o03SsKLH8DmAejJBcdHfuacc7MztAKQoQjGTC-NyC7veGaMZgMeTLA1xN_diLsSANJKW4Fe5ks/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500428011571970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q3POFmF-mMKkkkoy17dQ-kB99tuh6EUZ0fjhWLd21MeUkCaU3tyKmuuXKxRbbLUN2o03SsKLH8DmAejJBcdHfuacc7MztAKQoQjGTC-NyC7veGaMZgMeTLA1xN_diLsSANJKW4Fe5ks/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+057.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kZ1AfmY9Xlg08jiEa9rA2rUVl3wzRv9MDnCbc1oNMA4v53dl8o6wQ9AngO2m9hmE5R50dwfeR3i6DXmoW80y73iUhrb0WOWbxBs3TIEgjlHssWxzgfF4yQizCAthqyUIO9mFuPImTC8/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500327945256306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kZ1AfmY9Xlg08jiEa9rA2rUVl3wzRv9MDnCbc1oNMA4v53dl8o6wQ9AngO2m9hmE5R50dwfeR3i6DXmoW80y73iUhrb0WOWbxBs3TIEgjlHssWxzgfF4yQizCAthqyUIO9mFuPImTC8/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+063.JPG" /></a> Grapes
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqCZzVhgrcIyQMWAMjJPJ1MaAbl5gmhE_fSx1bLl2bHZUmhSYXJHcspEaF0kF4bkNVGE2wOB8KLjU2Ex-glPHJTc05GXjeGeUnnyVdA4zZEYpQv52_dwTYtqnwjVQkjcGphgmfOXMvUA/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500213953075730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqCZzVhgrcIyQMWAMjJPJ1MaAbl5gmhE_fSx1bLl2bHZUmhSYXJHcspEaF0kF4bkNVGE2wOB8KLjU2Ex-glPHJTc05GXjeGeUnnyVdA4zZEYpQv52_dwTYtqnwjVQkjcGphgmfOXMvUA/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+067.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZlFcosn7_MXf6AR8Q5S2gAmNt_R1MHEm6l7UnOtE27azAB4qhELY3xE7TJEElqa9EUD8isbhFpuft9MaX42xcz5kz0tKuBUzrRAEyg2v4xsGbF0fd4SJHdCd_PN5aZuzZ6vaKtYoXKg/s1600/20110826+MSU+Gardens+070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647500087205307938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZlFcosn7_MXf6AR8Q5S2gAmNt_R1MHEm6l7UnOtE27azAB4qhELY3xE7TJEElqa9EUD8isbhFpuft9MaX42xcz5kz0tKuBUzrRAEyg2v4xsGbF0fd4SJHdCd_PN5aZuzZ6vaKtYoXKg/s400/20110826+MSU+Gardens+070.JPG" /></a> English garden
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOxNiDKKggJL9EHU0-m2o50IJdf1gReaUsgCAMSWhEGpG6ySzymheZb99HdFkI1EPtXShUSTnBggD6J5r9n9_vAPXQLHcK6ia1-2-17_SAWG3k5HIzG0A_lBROnidL-TINe4NTxcI4a0/s1600/20110815+FHE+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647499731533550466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOxNiDKKggJL9EHU0-m2o50IJdf1gReaUsgCAMSWhEGpG6ySzymheZb99HdFkI1EPtXShUSTnBggD6J5r9n9_vAPXQLHcK6ia1-2-17_SAWG3k5HIzG0A_lBROnidL-TINe4NTxcI4a0/s400/20110815+FHE+032.JPG" /></a> Radiology Gardens and our favorite place to walk.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4o8DprrU1dcPvgfSIGHQZ_E6ipNuNoXnKDoJk8-sZEN8cWTME8KFuxWFAAtP_opgULlve1uv1YjymaSFgQPf1_ZSX3_5rHtJ8YopLOSqqd2zlRFYPMRR9DR-N_niy39Z4lIG7TF0TFM/s1600/20110815+FHE+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647499652493721602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4o8DprrU1dcPvgfSIGHQZ_E6ipNuNoXnKDoJk8-sZEN8cWTME8KFuxWFAAtP_opgULlve1uv1YjymaSFgQPf1_ZSX3_5rHtJ8YopLOSqqd2zlRFYPMRR9DR-N_niy39Z4lIG7TF0TFM/s400/20110815+FHE+034.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3lxjvrv6CgrXAljilk8Im_b_HdsheGPI-DXS722ZgWbf7AUQOIkeuwU6_4ZsXia44h81Ej4tURksXA8zciSs_XxJ1cPdf_YhgLW1LqRvkXzLeTgnBhGrvKnOK9IpZ-xL1B3sDLPW91s/s1600/20110815+FHE+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647499391634958146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3lxjvrv6CgrXAljilk8Im_b_HdsheGPI-DXS722ZgWbf7AUQOIkeuwU6_4ZsXia44h81Ej4tURksXA8zciSs_XxJ1cPdf_YhgLW1LqRvkXzLeTgnBhGrvKnOK9IpZ-xL1B3sDLPW91s/s400/20110815+FHE+037.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2PF-3CjjkuV3j5GZJnd8jWZ6dmVQptcaCti_z30GFFI1PzyRzpM78kWEeVN29_6YO7bJqW0NNuyecf-oBSEzT7cGSR6ahMTmZHNOouPX4PMR97gH_cmHMkIIFcR3KZjmclakM4l2dE4/s1600/20110815+FHE+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647499242726216818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2PF-3CjjkuV3j5GZJnd8jWZ6dmVQptcaCti_z30GFFI1PzyRzpM78kWEeVN29_6YO7bJqW0NNuyecf-oBSEzT7cGSR6ahMTmZHNOouPX4PMR97gH_cmHMkIIFcR3KZjmclakM4l2dE4/s400/20110815+FHE+041.JPG" /></a> This hibiscus was as big as a dinner plate.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9eWSDC_E67h-BPok8LfR8ESAsIaJ0MWvsR_NcV7eO-nIAvrLKsfibw1jJxN5CRCrIsOtt8QODMcwmLJggrXufFfarRS-1mKOPazTLlW37ZIuJhO_zfKoT-MeTiBIyrh_AD7JOcwyf1E/s1600/20110815+FHE+045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647499151477452082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9eWSDC_E67h-BPok8LfR8ESAsIaJ0MWvsR_NcV7eO-nIAvrLKsfibw1jJxN5CRCrIsOtt8QODMcwmLJggrXufFfarRS-1mKOPazTLlW37ZIuJhO_zfKoT-MeTiBIyrh_AD7JOcwyf1E/s400/20110815+FHE+045.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyCWO2JpB5am3zUIw4lOa9FLr9jN4rCgBHfFr2DQoGWB4LuUNRa8kkKCpsJV6pXwtAfUagpdGpf0FiyME0kxOPVYGoWFaNxxQoM-v_hmUGkVba_EF4R9f9-U062thT4occ7laOMPqtYY/s1600/20110815+FHE+049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647499019846543394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyCWO2JpB5am3zUIw4lOa9FLr9jN4rCgBHfFr2DQoGWB4LuUNRa8kkKCpsJV6pXwtAfUagpdGpf0FiyME0kxOPVYGoWFaNxxQoM-v_hmUGkVba_EF4R9f9-U062thT4occ7laOMPqtYY/s400/20110815+FHE+049.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A5oakkJQjBhdfiLrdBrXBW2ZvzqW5xcLFA5cpUbcX2YhZu89NT54gQ6G8bawNQYUskN89Iv-uZ1lQ0iWfkzMOOALAGs7q6mGdrEj5Pu8nEqIWRWsujosJGd3w0EQcjoe0hsFVcQ0dvU/s1600/Garden+4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647498818240818914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A5oakkJQjBhdfiLrdBrXBW2ZvzqW5xcLFA5cpUbcX2YhZu89NT54gQ6G8bawNQYUskN89Iv-uZ1lQ0iWfkzMOOALAGs7q6mGdrEj5Pu8nEqIWRWsujosJGd3w0EQcjoe0hsFVcQ0dvU/s400/Garden+4.JPG" /></a> The plant man!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-25019722731439969062011-08-27T11:10:00.000-07:002011-08-27T11:38:33.469-07:00I Got Flowers!One of the MSU students, Roy Merker, did an intership in Ohio this summer and brought this beautiful orchid back for me. Was that sweet enough? The students here take such good care of us.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegpSWzGwkLTHb-1DzWOxAyCgSqevpUmJiYLhW3dnHfuCWE_GxBxppQBxnw-kQ_o8kFsuVSYBmXe5X2rrwOwAuqv-qI5fA834065hwCBVW81N7_V8cy1N6q71eWmb6ACvZlWmQmx5LjcI/s1600/20110825+Orchid%252C+Apartment%252C+Gazebo+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645604900899334274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegpSWzGwkLTHb-1DzWOxAyCgSqevpUmJiYLhW3dnHfuCWE_GxBxppQBxnw-kQ_o8kFsuVSYBmXe5X2rrwOwAuqv-qI5fA834065hwCBVW81N7_V8cy1N6q71eWmb6ACvZlWmQmx5LjcI/s400/20110825+Orchid%252C+Apartment%252C+Gazebo+004.JPG" /></a>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-18200630495553449552011-08-07T15:29:00.000-07:002011-08-07T18:29:49.030-07:00"Summer Time and the Livin' Is Easy"The summer has been a time of lots of moving in and out of the Living Center. As the winter semester ended, there were lots of moving outs and now as the summer is starting to wind down, we look forward to welcoming the returning students back along. Just this week two new freshmen moved down the hall from us and we expect to see lots of new faces in the coming weeks.<br />Eight have moved out as they got married, four just this past week. It has been so fun to watch the sweet romances blossom around here and then have the opportunity to share some of their celebrations. We had such a great time attending Brandon Carlson and Julia Mastie’s reception last evening—good food, nice music, a candy station, and best of all great friends to visit.<br />We only have two more weeks of summer institute classes and then it is full gear into fall with lots more classes added to the schedule at the institute and then we do a big lunch every Friday for what is called Friday Forum—lunch and a class. For now we are enjoying the summer and the beauties of Michigan as well as meeting times with missionaries and the young people. Here are a few recent pictures in no apparent order (Craig loves all the light houses in Michigan. We haven’t seen all 116 yet, but we are working on it.):<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0JE74ZsOycs6WuPCj4wS8SmfSqKx13WR9kzHgjnFfA9QzGm3KW7M1VO4xM3KYVor0nqJkpwOUPaJemvAH5t4Ev2ypie5Eh0YeOu_AK-Wx8HagWf6Aa0o55nLH2uIoMOjLA9noJP671c/s1600/Institute+20110803+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638252314243947826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0JE74ZsOycs6WuPCj4wS8SmfSqKx13WR9kzHgjnFfA9QzGm3KW7M1VO4xM3KYVor0nqJkpwOUPaJemvAH5t4Ev2ypie5Eh0YeOu_AK-Wx8HagWf6Aa0o55nLH2uIoMOjLA9noJP671c/s400/Institute+20110803+015.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Jason and Justin playing 8-Ball in the Institute game room.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxHGm7AwyGu3ewKZ8fvEIL-tEQ0iZjQ5hwacyMrqYAgV2b9wyYpeijUphrAtOYGwtBGN9VpG0dkfSYAH43Us_ZhniE02WqYMRuJrqpa-uPPYlAsBBV8I01-q5R_o_BMbLUcwsbSOIX-0/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638252012687699650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxHGm7AwyGu3ewKZ8fvEIL-tEQ0iZjQ5hwacyMrqYAgV2b9wyYpeijUphrAtOYGwtBGN9VpG0dkfSYAH43Us_ZhniE02WqYMRuJrqpa-uPPYlAsBBV8I01-q5R_o_BMbLUcwsbSOIX-0/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+092.JPG" /></a><br /><br />New Presque Isle Lighthouse between Rogers City and Alpena on Lake Huron.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYRirqwis1Ulc77Rae_odNwCKq8Om_1J-tGcX5O4Nacd4RLGfoU_gypZcYzJFGWhHtyRHKWSvzfg0Zp9jIqGBIJG_L634Mk9dSNNZYg9AFgwMCMMvqZYIM57sxMoZD9IQCOYKvBq5pcA/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+082.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251898510001586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYRirqwis1Ulc77Rae_odNwCKq8Om_1J-tGcX5O4Nacd4RLGfoU_gypZcYzJFGWhHtyRHKWSvzfg0Zp9jIqGBIJG_L634Mk9dSNNZYg9AFgwMCMMvqZYIM57sxMoZD9IQCOYKvBq5pcA/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+082.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNAQi5G2HWt7pXGKtltMDI40o43GMJRywRwehdpE_WCuqgjCf6CPOxmkauIQeu8FWjoLcf3KuC1On6dhPeukq47mxG166IaqOXGpJbotkp3bdK71KSUv8bmzU14mMOflZgbT9RoFYM9Y/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251698876087202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNAQi5G2HWt7pXGKtltMDI40o43GMJRywRwehdpE_WCuqgjCf6CPOxmkauIQeu8FWjoLcf3KuC1On6dhPeukq47mxG166IaqOXGpJbotkp3bdK71KSUv8bmzU14mMOflZgbT9RoFYM9Y/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+062.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Forty Mile Point Lighthouse on Lake Huron.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAFtDETRXiccVqzZmwdCvoxEy-M3FIXxAiDPD38cxd6M-njkEDsv1ZUsrc79s6WI4nWNS3FJ_9_JM5hYQqlOqE5zmGWDkH5J3FmiE9fz2mRJrUXINu3JRt9F44gttsXmGnu7FkO5xvg0/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251588869754706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAFtDETRXiccVqzZmwdCvoxEy-M3FIXxAiDPD38cxd6M-njkEDsv1ZUsrc79s6WI4nWNS3FJ_9_JM5hYQqlOqE5zmGWDkH5J3FmiE9fz2mRJrUXINu3JRt9F44gttsXmGnu7FkO5xvg0/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+029.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The historic - not to mention quirky and whimsical - Legs Inn, Cross City.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMo2yMRccqgHddTuV0PFD7F51tqWmEcqK3C4jIJb3BkbJuIly0HUr-u7mZqAIJArh0AJh-ShxOOjSWU2iJhDIVADif-j4eqiRJbUFcml0_WhW7w_mMl2FOOqoq_ABDh9ugvHNCGI-GpU/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251473051223890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMo2yMRccqgHddTuV0PFD7F51tqWmEcqK3C4jIJb3BkbJuIly0HUr-u7mZqAIJArh0AJh-ShxOOjSWU2iJhDIVADif-j4eqiRJbUFcml0_WhW7w_mMl2FOOqoq_ABDh9ugvHNCGI-GpU/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Beautiful Duplex at the marina in Harbor Springs, overlooking Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. Reminds us of Bruce and Carrie's "Big Brown House"!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>be<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRcx2ZSpKTGDf3PIvc-rQ9QUesH6zI1WodFzwC26jUdnc0fWZK-g9k40DEYddT17_GYvEdW-fWZO4D7g8riyMLs6QpL-8dPMvw9cyNspGtoNrPtAHyQzg331xjka0eUZSIBDrYDm0uaI/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251353223948546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRcx2ZSpKTGDf3PIvc-rQ9QUesH6zI1WodFzwC26jUdnc0fWZK-g9k40DEYddT17_GYvEdW-fWZO4D7g8riyMLs6QpL-8dPMvw9cyNspGtoNrPtAHyQzg331xjka0eUZSIBDrYDm0uaI/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+021.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Beachcombers at Petosky beach searching for the elusive "Petosky Stones".<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfHUYtcZDhYL_UBOqh3GpceXXMl0clmrlqPxNUgPzVPbHbQgYYih0STJ31CrXdcaFN6VkvGyeHTYj1hLIoWKue430Grpr_vZDwVSoza0p-BoPZf-5iG0RMVNqkiqqzazCJfGJ1EoVJEY/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251238945727794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfHUYtcZDhYL_UBOqh3GpceXXMl0clmrlqPxNUgPzVPbHbQgYYih0STJ31CrXdcaFN6VkvGyeHTYj1hLIoWKue430Grpr_vZDwVSoza0p-BoPZf-5iG0RMVNqkiqqzazCJfGJ1EoVJEY/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+008.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Charlevoix South Pierpoint Light at Charlevoix, on Lake Michigan.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4B84-SG-_m_NY9VujyhAi0wSDcaYDQZjcpVdczDxZTjgykWlXQcLo2wRK-43Np3J2HX53knjtKI4wFSWlbFlD-ByNTqTa2AMls2Wb5zeRlyDF1JNOMH5Kp6BIpO6bLehORsjLYOEows/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638251118788716306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4B84-SG-_m_NY9VujyhAi0wSDcaYDQZjcpVdczDxZTjgykWlXQcLo2wRK-43Np3J2HX53knjtKI4wFSWlbFlD-ByNTqTa2AMls2Wb5zeRlyDF1JNOMH5Kp6BIpO6bLehORsjLYOEows/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+005.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Charlevoix Light...check out the gorgeous white "sugar sand" beach!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjTYc9CrgPuKHjOcinMmyoXIDf5r2tAIAv8quC5v41VoG3u37D1nsmmDQldKDxe8Ho6IL5yY-KLR8qbM4q0Gvdj3JOkoKEqgjyl4jvd0QKXzVBG8WLB4Dx7fsnd-ZNPCJEU2eBiPBF6g/s1600/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638250326998658562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjTYc9CrgPuKHjOcinMmyoXIDf5r2tAIAv8quC5v41VoG3u37D1nsmmDQldKDxe8Ho6IL5yY-KLR8qbM4q0Gvdj3JOkoKEqgjyl4jvd0QKXzVBG8WLB4Dx7fsnd-ZNPCJEU2eBiPBF6g/s400/20110806+Petosky+to+Lake+Huron+001.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />It seems we were able to make it Bear Lake after all! This one located southeast of Traverse City.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl82tCO_v68PkVoPpFBjrHXHOS1_zDrNDkYT2khjPF9fUO_Gu4zN4PJLM4ypWIfEYMviyJgJysRBg07JURYNRmZwj3N-d7mlycMTWF6F1edJSOlfsEDEqVDCLA83NiVqaVeeK2toxm_OA/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+235.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638250051798643698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl82tCO_v68PkVoPpFBjrHXHOS1_zDrNDkYT2khjPF9fUO_Gu4zN4PJLM4ypWIfEYMviyJgJysRBg07JURYNRmZwj3N-d7mlycMTWF6F1edJSOlfsEDEqVDCLA83NiVqaVeeK2toxm_OA/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+235.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Beautiful scenery and cherry orchards...looking towards West Traverse Bay from the top of Mission Point ridge. The cherries in this area are amazing!!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxzZZoSyOUdr0rwtgTWQFjlGhHVLbSsqgtW1y7gl1agxHIMRxtdKCvADDxDDgigp6mCQl0PfaXe3OrKOShdQ5bMKaVoAzgaMXHhRXG3ic1fJdR08bwav9ndLnaNCt4uUB41Gj2s6gYsc/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+205.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249927395327250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxzZZoSyOUdr0rwtgTWQFjlGhHVLbSsqgtW1y7gl1agxHIMRxtdKCvADDxDDgigp6mCQl0PfaXe3OrKOShdQ5bMKaVoAzgaMXHhRXG3ic1fJdR08bwav9ndLnaNCt4uUB41Gj2s6gYsc/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+205.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>The essentials...ski boat in the lift, Waverider on the lift, a few ducks, and a well-located hammock! West Traverse Bay, MI.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdGdMke_el2s6fA8ltmYxG-MB8mfXDilVJ2bFR__VkbQPrnZu7s-QcGbGPaATgRykS8RYoUR2r8UsXf5_n9XkkADIXiNaZsOcXTQ_jS0Mu2AeKFvEG0qyMVQE8y7iBUXU38Jeir5GtSk/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+163.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249813177058178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdGdMke_el2s6fA8ltmYxG-MB8mfXDilVJ2bFR__VkbQPrnZu7s-QcGbGPaATgRykS8RYoUR2r8UsXf5_n9XkkADIXiNaZsOcXTQ_jS0Mu2AeKFvEG0qyMVQE8y7iBUXU38Jeir5GtSk/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+163.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Grand Traverse Lighthouse, on the end of the "little finger" of Michigan's "mitten"!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSfU6eqc-Kto1DbXzAwzIyXdyOzoXJ0G2etdG7I6CB20XlhkJPBeEAR5hh9ELc4-Ft6IgvtlilrhSSJpxYv-uxhag1Cz8O3JNW4GTaed3rNkUDE_aS7A3DljhZ3XKGRI9iHu_rXDw1BE/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+140.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249716302546450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSfU6eqc-Kto1DbXzAwzIyXdyOzoXJ0G2etdG7I6CB20XlhkJPBeEAR5hh9ELc4-Ft6IgvtlilrhSSJpxYv-uxhag1Cz8O3JNW4GTaed3rNkUDE_aS7A3DljhZ3XKGRI9iHu_rXDw1BE/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+140.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Fishtown, on Lake Michigan...VERY cool and funky!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BArEXpKTP_GfHEPsZ8N5Baf_gYlf2P1ds1_IotVXzqWMwNITIhF4cdGTVFB2sOZqgLVwoolNZ1Ldf_HmkwyeGmqabX2qHhnO00KFu_DlRIxWC7ozrTxlWWPRO-5TtrRrR4LLrS-SwDk/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+135.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249591595261410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BArEXpKTP_GfHEPsZ8N5Baf_gYlf2P1ds1_IotVXzqWMwNITIhF4cdGTVFB2sOZqgLVwoolNZ1Ldf_HmkwyeGmqabX2qHhnO00KFu_DlRIxWC7ozrTxlWWPRO-5TtrRrR4LLrS-SwDk/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+135.JPG" /></a><br /><br />More Fishtown!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEkWmUSDYmUQXyv5BPvBFPI8RomvzIiRiM__CajoDatSR6h1c7I7B70I4zXsQle-gQ5Sf2DQzhG6n7SbTQZgg9Y7NRkt7Wm6laERYHJ953uI9ew8pugQoiqIHy9fLSfxds0FDXsq32pI/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249486749736450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEkWmUSDYmUQXyv5BPvBFPI8RomvzIiRiM__CajoDatSR6h1c7I7B70I4zXsQle-gQ5Sf2DQzhG6n7SbTQZgg9Y7NRkt7Wm6laERYHJ953uI9ew8pugQoiqIHy9fLSfxds0FDXsq32pI/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+067.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The #1 most incredible barn I have seen so far, on the Leelenau peninsula. Originally built by an early Michigan lumber baron, recently restored.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy14P9XsSdzXjKSYHmFc9bHM9CucxLEil7Dh57SBwGt39BvX22vLhd3Z3_0xcSsuG3_ZudS6CifKRglXposLSB3dqES8dQrr6U6QYO1siNV2XzBZ-Xiq7SWnaehl5XS9C4fuW4Wez5h4/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249358232042002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy14P9XsSdzXjKSYHmFc9bHM9CucxLEil7Dh57SBwGt39BvX22vLhd3Z3_0xcSsuG3_ZudS6CifKRglXposLSB3dqES8dQrr6U6QYO1siNV2XzBZ-Xiq7SWnaehl5XS9C4fuW4Wez5h4/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+064.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Sleeping Bear Dunes "climbing" area.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPxcNuprFDFXoSnJ9U9Dy8A_ZXdz3AHWw2skgIve4nw_X5_mBQbYnikV3jqOOHlDB4uVhSo4yxrJh4bRlU1vEI63jZKV36c1p0zt7uN2PlafPo3kOmzvoNMW2tqt9XWsYzLo8onBDxRk/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249199876361746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPxcNuprFDFXoSnJ9U9Dy8A_ZXdz3AHWw2skgIve4nw_X5_mBQbYnikV3jqOOHlDB4uVhSo4yxrJh4bRlU1vEI63jZKV36c1p0zt7uN2PlafPo3kOmzvoNMW2tqt9XWsYzLo8onBDxRk/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+058.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Warning sign posted at the sand dune 400' cliff shown below.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61H_lvVXyUobi4Bk-w8J7-cQmA44I-7DFo9_Vdd2xd2Es80JVJDqheXZ96qtwEFu1i2EVPWeaCz1Wr7BFaGtT-_uqon8XEQ-zPX5z6t-N1r_T9G3k5vGSQ0lTZ40rN8ES-2uqEUc6Ui8/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638249103308734562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61H_lvVXyUobi4Bk-w8J7-cQmA44I-7DFo9_Vdd2xd2Es80JVJDqheXZ96qtwEFu1i2EVPWeaCz1Wr7BFaGtT-_uqon8XEQ-zPX5z6t-N1r_T9G3k5vGSQ0lTZ40rN8ES-2uqEUc6Ui8/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+034.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Looking down the dunes to Lake Michigan, 400' below. VERY steep yet many were "running - or falling - down it and then climbing back up...eventually! That very small boat is actually about 35' long.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoK27RqGrivQ6aKAFD5y81Nns6qPvUrS7c7x2vH6TwNccP3iK7_Fb9Kc_BqMpZBCYsxcijrPcmajVjn2RIp1GJXdAIf4FibSYTTts9M9lO1IQsz5nTAEfkNe1vIvfz6bzC6coA43n3CM/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638248952733013506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoK27RqGrivQ6aKAFD5y81Nns6qPvUrS7c7x2vH6TwNccP3iK7_Fb9Kc_BqMpZBCYsxcijrPcmajVjn2RIp1GJXdAIf4FibSYTTts9M9lO1IQsz5nTAEfkNe1vIvfz6bzC6coA43n3CM/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+020.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Looking south from Field Stocking Road lookout point (Sleeping Bear Dunes). That is Point Betsie in the background.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D8ajZyX6iAPcidrB2hnwK0zVYI1rYppyQxEF91ED9u_teDW7q6BxSp1UK_fsNJ884DVO5FG74B5rkMKcrwBTtoisg4AsYTenQas43mp1vVpSUd2mpbrnnyhyDNRM1zt_65x-DlRBBm0/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638248672093766818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D8ajZyX6iAPcidrB2hnwK0zVYI1rYppyQxEF91ED9u_teDW7q6BxSp1UK_fsNJ884DVO5FG74B5rkMKcrwBTtoisg4AsYTenQas43mp1vVpSUd2mpbrnnyhyDNRM1zt_65x-DlRBBm0/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+005.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Point Betsie Lighthouse, overlooking the Manitou Passage on Lake Michigan.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd8qaEPJNUqfHFE172ub4gc0_3MKkkVT5qvo6GIWWotzp7HYQvqIiYZnps1WueTG5aQECWlqLWMRueDisPjt_C6PDD38jI5EcvbQh4ybYfu27k9ik6tEdSJlYWAvN6SX_tl3yIkIZDNo/s1600/20110721+Traverse+City+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638248574885216738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd8qaEPJNUqfHFE172ub4gc0_3MKkkVT5qvo6GIWWotzp7HYQvqIiYZnps1WueTG5aQECWlqLWMRueDisPjt_C6PDD38jI5EcvbQh4ybYfu27k9ik6tEdSJlYWAvN6SX_tl3yIkIZDNo/s400/20110721+Traverse+City+001.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse, Frankfort, MI.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfCIWZBe897uFiscmoOKX6Qs8M7uaDUhK4leMKDXOXx6edXFiawoyawq9vBiqxZQwAll2cQlEr2MhQ6M1aQKE_sG9DACixx6sn53l0fm-FVYNhjiSm5LGRkVttHVH0zJJIMwZe9a5usE/s1600/Institute+20110803+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638248302732731186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfCIWZBe897uFiscmoOKX6Qs8M7uaDUhK4leMKDXOXx6edXFiawoyawq9vBiqxZQwAll2cQlEr2MhQ6M1aQKE_sG9DACixx6sn53l0fm-FVYNhjiSm5LGRkVttHVH0zJJIMwZe9a5usE/s400/Institute+20110803+017.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We all took a snapshot at our last District Meeting. We have district meetings each Wednesday morning at the Institute.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GUOefHAL-7K0MF1HT7HRLRdS5oilhZxyxBp6AQ9sUFlomUltoN3DWPLkyhcgaVDE3szhV03Iu0pQ5-cNgprsR7CCJFpxIQlu2mSrBi6x61d5mupwoAIOLUEeD80oK4T-6bqJf664mVM/s1600/20110805+MIssionary+Breakfast+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638248178299468594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GUOefHAL-7K0MF1HT7HRLRdS5oilhZxyxBp6AQ9sUFlomUltoN3DWPLkyhcgaVDE3szhV03Iu0pQ5-cNgprsR7CCJFpxIQlu2mSrBi6x61d5mupwoAIOLUEeD80oK4T-6bqJf664mVM/s400/20110805+MIssionary+Breakfast+007.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Hungry missionaries at the missionary breakfast. Check out the designer pancakes and the size of the sausage patties!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1zUqJnUmmuGtDWbnQ45acA6zPjy2q3_YGH3lkcEbHWpmVZ_KUn-_5gWpNbD2_z6le9Jyko6ztXfngaz8wkVG_-6K1bp4m7Dcmc-fpSqcWkdXv-rGZAJeSJi6EKPjPzl9l5BPjNeiGvw/s1600/Institute+20110803+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638283644489874754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1zUqJnUmmuGtDWbnQ45acA6zPjy2q3_YGH3lkcEbHWpmVZ_KUn-_5gWpNbD2_z6le9Jyko6ztXfngaz8wkVG_-6K1bp4m7Dcmc-fpSqcWkdXv-rGZAJeSJi6EKPjPzl9l5BPjNeiGvw/s400/Institute+20110803+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Family Home Evening activity at Lake Lansing beach...boating, barbeque, and volleyball.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE17dys6_2KuLJgCS5hLVNoAY9rhyH0joUkh63KsTMuiMn9xLO4i4yggA9Tpk1Ofs_UIpyM0f6D8z4hEdJsiDpGWoABJKAjKkWrJoEUFLgLhvPI3rIyAq2JPbcA42NKhx4UkNsi95cpzQ/s1600/20110805+MIssionary+Breakfast+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638283415225804738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE17dys6_2KuLJgCS5hLVNoAY9rhyH0joUkh63KsTMuiMn9xLO4i4yggA9Tpk1Ofs_UIpyM0f6D8z4hEdJsiDpGWoABJKAjKkWrJoEUFLgLhvPI3rIyAq2JPbcA42NKhx4UkNsi95cpzQ/s400/20110805+MIssionary+Breakfast+012.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Sister Poulsen, Elder Jensen, and Sister Jensen.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB24VHqhXKBdoVjEH9XvAF8SKfYz_1W_EVrZdDnUY8IFL6PDJROEg9iOcsqyNYRZqNiN73pHjGc0aGkduhQP6KUQ12xpgVY4v_ZEtBPluhGvJgrvNPNmVxHfCeyVwIjkKsiodExGWjSo/s1600/20110805+MIssionary+Breakfast+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638248088510210786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB24VHqhXKBdoVjEH9XvAF8SKfYz_1W_EVrZdDnUY8IFL6PDJROEg9iOcsqyNYRZqNiN73pHjGc0aGkduhQP6KUQ12xpgVY4v_ZEtBPluhGvJgrvNPNmVxHfCeyVwIjkKsiodExGWjSo/s400/20110805+MIssionary+Breakfast+011.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Saturday Missionary Breakfast....organized by Elders Ransley and DeHart. Great food and a great time. Elder and Sister Jensen made the "theme" pancakes...featuring Mickey Mouse, cats, stingrays, centipedes, etc. Talk about creative pancakes!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8MEW7Okuy-PdakOvtmh5p427yo7OXMSb3p-vH5nKRz3H2ij8Gacc6IdZavP_6th3LRDyfmYkL-jGRG5yp7AY9bL3RfafDHtGjXvKJfIzx6pp9jBpw3O62rUNy7NC71zQpCLcJukIUxE/s1600/20110720+Holt+Ice+Sculpture+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638247700765979314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8MEW7Okuy-PdakOvtmh5p427yo7OXMSb3p-vH5nKRz3H2ij8Gacc6IdZavP_6th3LRDyfmYkL-jGRG5yp7AY9bL3RfafDHtGjXvKJfIzx6pp9jBpw3O62rUNy7NC71zQpCLcJukIUxE/s400/20110720+Holt+Ice+Sculpture+009.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Incredible sand sculpture at a Holt Ward YM/YW beach activity. Walter Schwartz, in the picture, is actually a professional sand artist!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-22945117975883468172011-08-01T09:20:00.000-07:002011-08-01T09:48:03.560-07:00Huamachuco, Peru ???One of the medical students who attends our Institute, Joe Gorz, is in charge of a MSU sponsored Medical Mission to Huamachuco, Peru. The participants, all 2nd year medical students from MSU, are arriving in Peru today. While there they will provide free medical care to approximately 1,500 local residents! Huamachuco is a rural area located high in the Andes mountains, where approximately 60% of the local population has no regular access to medical care of any kind.<br /><br />Last March Joe approached us (as representatives of the church) about possibly helping out with translation services while the students were providing medical care. The locals speak a certain dialect that requires pretty good language skills, and it had occurred to him that if we had local missionaries in that area perhaps they would be able to help out. Treatment is very slow if Dr/patient communication is very slow (not to mention inaccurate)and good translators can increase the turnaround - and therefore the number of residents served - by about fivefold!<br /><br />With the permission of our mission president and our CES Director, I contacted the president of the Peru Mission, President Terry Turk. He was very helpful in making arrangements with some of their local missionaries to help out with serving as translators during this MSU Medical Mission. This is all going on this week and next, so I am hopeful that everything works out as planned. <br /><br />Truly we are a world-wide church, with a strong interest in serving others. Our reach is very long when it comes to humanitarian service. I'm really grateful to those on our end as well as in Peru who are participating in such a worthwhile endeavor.Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-34625136650277090662011-07-31T16:47:00.001-07:002011-07-31T18:12:04.728-07:00BaptismLast evening I had the opporunity to baptize Bintue Dembele, a young woman from the country of Mali in Africa. Mali is just south of Algeria. Bintue's native language is French and she is learning English preparatory to majoring in education at MSU.<br /><br />She literally "found" the church, encountering Elders Ransley and Dehart at the church on a day when nobody is generally there. Truly an inspired meeting of one seeking the gospel of Jesus Christ (Bintue) with His servants called to teach the restored gospel (the Elders). <br /><br />Bintue is very sweet and friendly, with a smile that would warm any heart. She is making a lot of new friends in the University Ward and we are very excited for her as she progresses in the gospel.<br /><br />It's great to become so well acquainted with these young folks and to contribute in some small way to teaching and providing an example of how the gospel can touch and change lives for the eternities. It is a great privilege and blessing to be able to serve in this way, for which we are very grateful.<br /><br />In the photo are Elder Ransley, Bintue, me and Elder Dehart.<br /><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgird1HP-GjVmGX5keZ7SG6kiCT8xZHeL__PZNRPzyW7Mg1tWkk8bq0HiMg6b7OE7JlOKsHMr_pH7PxIQAMKd4nG9vKpAoibSBWHvA8ThpMEJDYy6zPTiUTcoKLe6rsLTIadjDxOyClLPY3/s400/Baptism+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635667570014903698" />Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-55733776145158898362011-07-19T13:10:00.000-07:002011-07-19T17:36:04.106-07:00Summer Fun with the University WardEven though there are fewer institute classes being taught this summer, things haven't really slowed down for us. We seem to find lots to do. Last weekend the University Ward went on a three day, two night trip to Nauvoo. We were asked to drive the Bishop's van and take some of the young people. It is about an 8 hour trip each way and we actually went through four states to get there. I loved the opportunity to get to know some of the young people better.<br /><br />It was our second visit there so it was fun to revisit some of the places we previously enjoyed and see the things that we had missed before. I especially enjoyed visiting the Land and Records Office and look up where some of my ancester's owned property and see the school records of my great, great grandmother. Of course visiting and seeing the magnificent Nauvoo Temple was a highlight as was attending the very moving Nauvoo Pageant.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm85yFfoSFeaUv0cWvwafC5lCnRV3l6gI8XIul9ysOlkmulcpIv34_IUw8-oVc4mask-d3YmEGY7pwyZiVbUrH_zqDl4TQW4l-uB2HCfpSurkhg7SydV7oFtyY6dMWfcsOIwfmytsV1k/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631176193061038354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm85yFfoSFeaUv0cWvwafC5lCnRV3l6gI8XIul9ysOlkmulcpIv34_IUw8-oVc4mask-d3YmEGY7pwyZiVbUrH_zqDl4TQW4l-uB2HCfpSurkhg7SydV7oFtyY6dMWfcsOIwfmytsV1k/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+050.JPG" /></a> The Nauvoo Pageant was beyond wonderful!!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS4pxTMGt7qBx7oNvu7lgnlLw39YePE711misOIrSALXdpgiSD6z0v6f15FFC3unmU33c_Muu-ehuaD4M4SwN6T-f7-FBI8i4CwecKkGejkm9Fc8eGTI28Ws4aaYsVPHlzuVlWFEsF5Q/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631175685262550242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS4pxTMGt7qBx7oNvu7lgnlLw39YePE711misOIrSALXdpgiSD6z0v6f15FFC3unmU33c_Muu-ehuaD4M4SwN6T-f7-FBI8i4CwecKkGejkm9Fc8eGTI28Ws4aaYsVPHlzuVlWFEsF5Q/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+013.JPG" /></a> Visiting the Blacksmith and Farrier Shop<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ZqqrNGVuIiXl-UJDk3smjFOicAdFNifMnhW1IMIUlGeGXVfFsgtGyjujkKY_Q6IE5tuKK9UTpJffViB-Cf_sj5uMb4scwTVrfX0-HpFv1z7JW41QZE44rFIDoHDM7arS_m7ygp8cjw/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631175559713801698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ZqqrNGVuIiXl-UJDk3smjFOicAdFNifMnhW1IMIUlGeGXVfFsgtGyjujkKY_Q6IE5tuKK9UTpJffViB-Cf_sj5uMb4scwTVrfX0-HpFv1z7JW41QZE44rFIDoHDM7arS_m7ygp8cjw/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+025.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2Czfwr1Bep2Ka3PvJUzrxJcaZtOJrHzb71q28UT0mgO9anqkY5JarUzV7j5Q_v61FythT1f3vwXoS9qi97US-uBafIs1bdR0j_cQhy6qfSitRKFPOL7vKjjDFqD-GpQ2soCmdt-NG5I/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631175108325711026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2Czfwr1Bep2Ka3PvJUzrxJcaZtOJrHzb71q28UT0mgO9anqkY5JarUzV7j5Q_v61FythT1f3vwXoS9qi97US-uBafIs1bdR0j_cQhy6qfSitRKFPOL7vKjjDFqD-GpQ2soCmdt-NG5I/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+030.JPG" /></a> I want one of these rugs. In the Family Living Center were learned all kinds of skills. The early settlers of Nauvoo were amazing.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzGaS45f3XvxayFfYwgEXxJGit1RtycWT1tP2BiFqFIGmW4IDw6Bl1yFO70MoJ7h78WJgYG-cNK_PBDfv-ZfZ6IZsYSGSk3X5fdN0_vsi0wMUOUxFmlydMhlyZ1hy294y215hDOJEZHw/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631174866157504914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzGaS45f3XvxayFfYwgEXxJGit1RtycWT1tP2BiFqFIGmW4IDw6Bl1yFO70MoJ7h78WJgYG-cNK_PBDfv-ZfZ6IZsYSGSk3X5fdN0_vsi0wMUOUxFmlydMhlyZ1hy294y215hDOJEZHw/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+034.JPG" /></a> Learning to make rope<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwILchKkv4Ti6o64ng7tmS3qSIWFl75QWAIKwIvEDz4AwzWp0bniw818FoFYCvN_xgoaxpbGVkBipuY71vSkljmihEL8YLkgduGB-GSlZomq_OOovLOdq_1qdj6d7wfOtqSchkXG9FW7E/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631173978057805202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwILchKkv4Ti6o64ng7tmS3qSIWFl75QWAIKwIvEDz4AwzWp0bniw818FoFYCvN_xgoaxpbGVkBipuY71vSkljmihEL8YLkgduGB-GSlZomq_OOovLOdq_1qdj6d7wfOtqSchkXG9FW7E/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+060.JPG" /></a> Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith was martyred. A very solemn and moving place to visit. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9_ZAoeQHnIOv8TFLf5ZcW-ShxqeQoPl7uM3iJ5TPF_P3cch_SFMeeTtpqZ1nUusTE3WYutLpKWBYDVrFFf-MyWNuotKBgwrWNYb31BQifMYA2W7C5wRJUt06RYYswzt2UQdXoIKPUSY/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631173291037772738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9_ZAoeQHnIOv8TFLf5ZcW-ShxqeQoPl7uM3iJ5TPF_P3cch_SFMeeTtpqZ1nUusTE3WYutLpKWBYDVrFFf-MyWNuotKBgwrWNYb31BQifMYA2W7C5wRJUt06RYYswzt2UQdXoIKPUSY/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+056.JPG" /></a> Two bullets passed through this door killing Hyrum Smith.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7aEJ8fs02FRwFLAPb8uyBSiOnwRb2bDh4P6RQFwNQr1SnaOGp85I7CT6lBPEN1-Qz0Pl94D2siW9CGwlf9kVe9Oo_zVHk9phjg12ttxU2oeLdEfVdBBD73Z7RZlOMz2_UU4CpWiJZWk/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631172858884020770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7aEJ8fs02FRwFLAPb8uyBSiOnwRb2bDh4P6RQFwNQr1SnaOGp85I7CT6lBPEN1-Qz0Pl94D2siW9CGwlf9kVe9Oo_zVHk9phjg12ttxU2oeLdEfVdBBD73Z7RZlOMz2_UU4CpWiJZWk/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+061.JPG" /></a> Joleen Bennett and Rachael Boardman at Carthage Jail.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgxX76HyIw4R4hcXizR5FsBRjxGvk8hv4-TODrJvTrfaI32skPYPmlk6iHoQa4jLrUDaZMMH0hGyNw6Lr6KCuHxnnHaNmiH6OGLic2CwFt8ZUNRDFXfqx5RGPKPKzl5S1nd89RAETd4g/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631172147309642594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgxX76HyIw4R4hcXizR5FsBRjxGvk8hv4-TODrJvTrfaI32skPYPmlk6iHoQa4jLrUDaZMMH0hGyNw6Lr6KCuHxnnHaNmiH6OGLic2CwFt8ZUNRDFXfqx5RGPKPKzl5S1nd89RAETd4g/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+063.JPG" /></a> Our traveling companions Rachael Gleason, Justin Brace, Annabeth Petersen, and Michelle Heizer.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1qwvAgGVxv_CcLtNNU4lRHzrY7bGy5PlFjZeCJ9frK0ar746grcMsJBbWV3cEPDF6VKI8d6ZczSZuPCDGDoulYHZo-1UyiHazsoZel6CffmozLOIVessfAc6dQny4tsSj4h4ZsWpE90/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631172018307549938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1qwvAgGVxv_CcLtNNU4lRHzrY7bGy5PlFjZeCJ9frK0ar746grcMsJBbWV3cEPDF6VKI8d6ZczSZuPCDGDoulYHZo-1UyiHazsoZel6CffmozLOIVessfAc6dQny4tsSj4h4ZsWpE90/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+064.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjp0Xutc3u7dI6M-n9ZNCisiG47d-aN42sA5IApPRtubv_Rmbl8AqQ0XwpRxzyZQNXohgaa7tcl2y_wjhy2xKr-ohpA2FsTO-RQ2HcfTqQG4X5m-d7pv1WtU-I4JKrUwhegQ5C40RYtY/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+065.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631171852681861906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjp0Xutc3u7dI6M-n9ZNCisiG47d-aN42sA5IApPRtubv_Rmbl8AqQ0XwpRxzyZQNXohgaa7tcl2y_wjhy2xKr-ohpA2FsTO-RQ2HcfTqQG4X5m-d7pv1WtU-I4JKrUwhegQ5C40RYtY/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+065.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeje4y5uGQQ5Y-OGph3AUmi0fAD7OVqtZvn7ak33yPu2u_o-qAKgoujQNgP9cgDukRmOvy1e13mgvWmMsA3N3YNh8eWjCVfl6MFm1Vravrt4qmaaHe6IEFwEVGfqkUQ6xD9iFkLr9ykSc/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631171512627640642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeje4y5uGQQ5Y-OGph3AUmi0fAD7OVqtZvn7ak33yPu2u_o-qAKgoujQNgP9cgDukRmOvy1e13mgvWmMsA3N3YNh8eWjCVfl6MFm1Vravrt4qmaaHe6IEFwEVGfqkUQ6xD9iFkLr9ykSc/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+068.JPG" /></a> A tasty cold root beer at the Red Brick Store really hit the spot on a very HOT day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2SwVP_d3RrEQQAIzXS_ZM761Ebx438SZSMWy3ENRm3pc2PvX5P6StrMYCAebaRnyifRM2dk_16WBaf27s25JzNllU_8GRkYIDq4Rkz24UN1BLWsjnZI_rtRUYIchohGXVYjBkNTjhsU/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+071.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631171226489920546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2SwVP_d3RrEQQAIzXS_ZM761Ebx438SZSMWy3ENRm3pc2PvX5P6StrMYCAebaRnyifRM2dk_16WBaf27s25JzNllU_8GRkYIDq4Rkz24UN1BLWsjnZI_rtRUYIchohGXVYjBkNTjhsU/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+071.JPG" /></a> The final resting place of Joseph, Hyrum, and Emma Smith.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMUyVZEGNsmKqoKv2VeiTHRR947trsnJdicXlrrPBAyCgeoUOxtVqX8ynLniuSxJAQQvtCZqDHmfkJFXqM4R7okeCI_SIDrnBDmJljhinv8xFnFmPTjmGbEnRNHhuMg0ojZN-fKvC1K0/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+083.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631170911790763586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMUyVZEGNsmKqoKv2VeiTHRR947trsnJdicXlrrPBAyCgeoUOxtVqX8ynLniuSxJAQQvtCZqDHmfkJFXqM4R7okeCI_SIDrnBDmJljhinv8xFnFmPTjmGbEnRNHhuMg0ojZN-fKvC1K0/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+083.JPG" /></a> Having lunch with the gang!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPql8uAjDNqbteHV0YqGjKODl2VSo6y3drTUL7UPAXehooZj1EgS2jryIf9WuOsYNQyZIt3dejM_PxUD6oSNdWRuiK8Vqq4c0XkpjxMVA3oLuXsF3uIuK_NVK5RA6lPMuoC6eXL9vjthE/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631169982792184898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPql8uAjDNqbteHV0YqGjKODl2VSo6y3drTUL7UPAXehooZj1EgS2jryIf9WuOsYNQyZIt3dejM_PxUD6oSNdWRuiK8Vqq4c0XkpjxMVA3oLuXsF3uIuK_NVK5RA6lPMuoC6eXL9vjthE/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+110.JPG" /></a> Jonathan Browning House and Gunsmith Shop<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1ihYGpiBcFcEqQPByCtkgRWsrYeaQjqv7O07c1YVZcIF0uJ01h5D_2Vt96coXFqRv0aKeTZSTIin5rFc2mGMIsTsJKxoWXXCw4HkyCD6oTtm2OJX2UsFpAUH_Hiu0578IfiOb2TwGz0/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+113.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631169618452409810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1ihYGpiBcFcEqQPByCtkgRWsrYeaQjqv7O07c1YVZcIF0uJ01h5D_2Vt96coXFqRv0aKeTZSTIin5rFc2mGMIsTsJKxoWXXCw4HkyCD6oTtm2OJX2UsFpAUH_Hiu0578IfiOb2TwGz0/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+113.JPG" /></a> The actor who played Joseph Smith in the pageant giving King Follett Sermon in a grove.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXPz8hvo5l9OpbMTukkuvkct8cwlNCXdVh0yWys3zsJ97WkSe3j1-2GcLpQvr6loc-s4GwI4KyyDMw0QrCh9GUtUtl21I-qpw8XPKV-ZCO_yokGbEMGCuoGSJfiQTBSDykrILVUBE2JI/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+116.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631169260078366530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXPz8hvo5l9OpbMTukkuvkct8cwlNCXdVh0yWys3zsJ97WkSe3j1-2GcLpQvr6loc-s4GwI4KyyDMw0QrCh9GUtUtl21I-qpw8XPKV-ZCO_yokGbEMGCuoGSJfiQTBSDykrILVUBE2JI/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+116.JPG" /></a> Dangling feet in the mighty Mississippi.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQxDxyryBpjX52shLBh7iMSq_hkCkUO9WZIuivRwzDcSoes3-S7VdE7kXheX1absndIUV3gFp3Yu31vEZZD7kiuUXRrmbvBDc8jok9JDmCoT1SUtLaFI87TBeLQCuTvnDLQwNraB-jMo/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631169070622690658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQxDxyryBpjX52shLBh7iMSq_hkCkUO9WZIuivRwzDcSoes3-S7VdE7kXheX1absndIUV3gFp3Yu31vEZZD7kiuUXRrmbvBDc8jok9JDmCoT1SUtLaFI87TBeLQCuTvnDLQwNraB-jMo/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+046.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy-1mKIRrvl-u-v4Kz_6akrlaLMIV35QaEgZbF0Mav6ZMyFCMl0-va3pHdoGQ0AukRE8AghGBlcSCaTlZYDnKZUnrcX4UFANSzITewujf1TZo910lRNQt3nmXWIXyJ6BJHZFUmvhs0E0/s1600/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+129.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631167505533970098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy-1mKIRrvl-u-v4Kz_6akrlaLMIV35QaEgZbF0Mav6ZMyFCMl0-va3pHdoGQ0AukRE8AghGBlcSCaTlZYDnKZUnrcX4UFANSzITewujf1TZo910lRNQt3nmXWIXyJ6BJHZFUmvhs0E0/s400/20110714+Nauvoo+Trip+129.JPG" /></a><br />Dancing up a storm at the Country Fair before the Nauvoo Pageant!</div><br /><br /><br /><div>The University Ward for Family Night went ice blocking. Brought back lots of ice blocking memories for me. I couldn't believe they could actually find a hill to go down as Michigan is quite flat and we have seen very few hills anywhere in our travels. Lots of water, lots of lush trees and foliage, but few real hills. The very highest mountain in all of Michigan is only 1900 feet. (Big change for us westerners.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU9U2EfF18TPs_kbvJULZPVKgRomnROx79n062egcLES81MVfbinlTRxZ4TLKZEke0TZzuX2O6rBSvz-75CQll7rLYS-uTjjMRb7VkeHP6gmDe1bZi1zUmbuqoY1dXarJx_fRXToOKCI/s1600/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631165593729896658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU9U2EfF18TPs_kbvJULZPVKgRomnROx79n062egcLES81MVfbinlTRxZ4TLKZEke0TZzuX2O6rBSvz-75CQll7rLYS-uTjjMRb7VkeHP6gmDe1bZi1zUmbuqoY1dXarJx_fRXToOKCI/s400/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+022.JPG" /></a> Lots of wipe outs!!!! (Emily Smith)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6NtlQeKSAXjQL0ovwm-J1yDmGzKJjmzuHckda2i4OM9XdNLu27nFmVolQbgA4numynWXVKbz4NAzAkdA1jFmlMgehigtSKYmpxjx3yCL7IIKyx5hmbauRgr_TNO_gWI8Y5Zj4ZWbhQ4/s1600/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+076.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631164870770936914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6NtlQeKSAXjQL0ovwm-J1yDmGzKJjmzuHckda2i4OM9XdNLu27nFmVolQbgA4numynWXVKbz4NAzAkdA1jFmlMgehigtSKYmpxjx3yCL7IIKyx5hmbauRgr_TNO_gWI8Y5Zj4ZWbhQ4/s400/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+076.JPG" /></a> Joe Andersen flies on ice!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax-x_sqJHEa3LAn9DwnPZaLJUsq9zUCGpaNJKxHb2f61ncudVvBexjy5OvcDZk98F64Q0eE5iEKY36E1uvldChXE-TxaTUmN3q-tfM3khFw-Eg0apPcOyd-7LkajcsLdsSpv3owiaS5c/s1600/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631164026977857602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax-x_sqJHEa3LAn9DwnPZaLJUsq9zUCGpaNJKxHb2f61ncudVvBexjy5OvcDZk98F64Q0eE5iEKY36E1uvldChXE-TxaTUmN3q-tfM3khFw-Eg0apPcOyd-7LkajcsLdsSpv3owiaS5c/s400/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+070.JPG" /></a> Wild and crazy guy goes sliding through the weeds. (Austin Fuller) <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTDOD6aSfCtNWTmFSrphJ68_2Af6v5ABVu5B58jXUF2vnWX4sTgXvdB6noNr6o27qb2RYkNVkC_aRNmbOKqwaWKNXQecPRxc2jfGwDKYSHXQvSGR6IGl0Lk5WwCcrBoSAk4-hiQXUAJM/s1600/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631163444341442562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTDOD6aSfCtNWTmFSrphJ68_2Af6v5ABVu5B58jXUF2vnWX4sTgXvdB6noNr6o27qb2RYkNVkC_aRNmbOKqwaWKNXQecPRxc2jfGwDKYSHXQvSGR6IGl0Lk5WwCcrBoSAk4-hiQXUAJM/s400/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+037.JPG" /></a> Klea Juhl goes for it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FkNZRuVKIkkjVmyMqtSfJh7BKQ0lxij65DAniAy3jZNNoNh_xKL9Uzz0T7R9NYx-uC_XdlYq1vU_pdYJUncS-FtBZ5TWQoHrbbIArQ3NKC5-p1T6o7dHumtRZIQgU6h2xN32gACK5F8/s1600/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631162769544627282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FkNZRuVKIkkjVmyMqtSfJh7BKQ0lxij65DAniAy3jZNNoNh_xKL9Uzz0T7R9NYx-uC_XdlYq1vU_pdYJUncS-FtBZ5TWQoHrbbIArQ3NKC5-p1T6o7dHumtRZIQgU6h2xN32gACK5F8/s400/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+014.JPG" /></a> Natalie Bruening on her way.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpqgW1OD-KN9bRnlAahtQWCX_twxDlFjf8tiP530OizHMS2suA7uwcfZarhBQodflKXC5LHSaK3CJV1d-cYslv6e2p3jcVtlKVxk1Hv4O1SsOy15fh7qqxjxwD6gAx1BwueejyzRJvAo/s1600/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631162279819457490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpqgW1OD-KN9bRnlAahtQWCX_twxDlFjf8tiP530OizHMS2suA7uwcfZarhBQodflKXC5LHSaK3CJV1d-cYslv6e2p3jcVtlKVxk1Hv4O1SsOy15fh7qqxjxwD6gAx1BwueejyzRJvAo/s400/20110711+FHE+Ice+Blocking+005.JPG" /></a> The ice blocking gang getting ready to head down the hill.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-89489319059244107202011-07-10T19:31:00.000-07:002011-07-10T21:53:01.948-07:00Having a great time....Some teaching scenes from the Institute, Family Home Evening, Institute Classes, etc. What a joy it is to be called to serve and have an opportunity to help influence the lives of the young folks. We are truly having a great time in this service. It is a wonderful thing to see young lives influenced as they learn more about the teachings of the Savior. It is quite humbling to know that we were afforded this opportunity, and we are not only enjoying every minute of it, but also finding our own knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ enhanced each day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjC17zqRKzXIeBd3n4peWW8eyzjKj_cGI2ktvq6w451B6haKD5qxJ1DYDsTN0KzHLLtDo8Zjma9PAVuutU0ngII3P9fgRg3MftcPF4o-pFz1ho-LdvGscCw-Aq3N-MLVvFhrGqw5BFZuK/s1600/20110630+Institute+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjC17zqRKzXIeBd3n4peWW8eyzjKj_cGI2ktvq6w451B6haKD5qxJ1DYDsTN0KzHLLtDo8Zjma9PAVuutU0ngII3P9fgRg3MftcPF4o-pFz1ho-LdvGscCw-Aq3N-MLVvFhrGqw5BFZuK/s400/20110630+Institute+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627950274795901122" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qLv3XmfAneuQ4PAsEwc_1JItPXtTz_ozwU4Yn-UBkpV8xVj3TsyAYUIlQG6wm32gRCm-doBkdwUGo997iV9ZmFwcX6Vx4ZxD9mPcp6r_tGxsU1c8oqmUBE_YrZqcFnHWcGRsbIIOLuE1/s1600/20110630+Institute+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qLv3XmfAneuQ4PAsEwc_1JItPXtTz_ozwU4Yn-UBkpV8xVj3TsyAYUIlQG6wm32gRCm-doBkdwUGo997iV9ZmFwcX6Vx4ZxD9mPcp6r_tGxsU1c8oqmUBE_YrZqcFnHWcGRsbIIOLuE1/s400/20110630+Institute+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627950122053632354" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB2PePlHLvad7c8zmycuexkdqHpdwsnVO2SwXi5Jw3xdCN3tGgm8S_BAf97TEYaCnWKiJWXlrpelIYoZMFWeYrZ7vQtoJb-tpZVVTQrxnSboehDk8Dax349ZBKYKawTGx8E4DzFjBnoYw/s1600/20110630+Institute+031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB2PePlHLvad7c8zmycuexkdqHpdwsnVO2SwXi5Jw3xdCN3tGgm8S_BAf97TEYaCnWKiJWXlrpelIYoZMFWeYrZ7vQtoJb-tpZVVTQrxnSboehDk8Dax349ZBKYKawTGx8E4DzFjBnoYw/s400/20110630+Institute+031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627950009159882162" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ38a3hHo4fFm6JckUN_Fc0MHBYjfFQbLX8LmEkUz_6Sew8oQ40zl_MDqYaDmhevDTu6MfZXfjy5WhK_VmrYCEqpOPl4Pts4l0ripijjbaC4nQtPVmX7ikIpcHgMglpzC4Wx-5Qhewv-Wd/s1600/20110630+Institute+032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ38a3hHo4fFm6JckUN_Fc0MHBYjfFQbLX8LmEkUz_6Sew8oQ40zl_MDqYaDmhevDTu6MfZXfjy5WhK_VmrYCEqpOPl4Pts4l0ripijjbaC4nQtPVmX7ikIpcHgMglpzC4Wx-5Qhewv-Wd/s400/20110630+Institute+032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627949902907884818" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_A264uptfbT7sNPzc9Veq2ihZ4iUmIrE0utiUuTNPjkVe5RTAKOz_lIab-8fkjtryIAEL5tEo4OSI8IP-MeCUkIUUWREnjph0xvCEKhWkZjXFRGGIiNmq_KZM-CgbUVAzBcHvFRzp4gW/s1600/20110630+Institute+033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_A264uptfbT7sNPzc9Veq2ihZ4iUmIrE0utiUuTNPjkVe5RTAKOz_lIab-8fkjtryIAEL5tEo4OSI8IP-MeCUkIUUWREnjph0xvCEKhWkZjXFRGGIiNmq_KZM-CgbUVAzBcHvFRzp4gW/s400/20110630+Institute+033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627949766648208722" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86AiR4gbi1T7jG3GAfWTFFcLdTIbYBZBAc6pPmZtQOdJjXHvxUTb1TjfTMpIPIaovO5ljKeGpm0GQyf5jv1JSinbglJyllmU6pdDO1jKr1SDy67ZKmX8zJtCHP4OgIyEfrTWJixXk0Tr0/s1600/20110630+Institute+035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86AiR4gbi1T7jG3GAfWTFFcLdTIbYBZBAc6pPmZtQOdJjXHvxUTb1TjfTMpIPIaovO5ljKeGpm0GQyf5jv1JSinbglJyllmU6pdDO1jKr1SDy67ZKmX8zJtCHP4OgIyEfrTWJixXk0Tr0/s400/20110630+Institute+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627949624175348242" /></a><br /><br />Roy and Jennie...just two of the many great friends we've made while on our Mission. I can't begin to describe how wonderful all these young folks are and what a great privilege it is to serve among them. They are a tremendous example of the the teachings of the Savior in the way they serve each other and the Lord.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIuDGkeKd6-haOI3gcn7fNZoLhLTD9b61c_lvStO20lzIPuvGhIpaI7P58pZKvRi7C3Mi9V7gkIBFeiQn0zV1wQJl0GDO1BggYAMe3Z3QMkHCnYw2GSgKl7p364x9kgGwVfsTGfYavC6G/s1600/20110630+Institute+024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIuDGkeKd6-haOI3gcn7fNZoLhLTD9b61c_lvStO20lzIPuvGhIpaI7P58pZKvRi7C3Mi9V7gkIBFeiQn0zV1wQJl0GDO1BggYAMe3Z3QMkHCnYw2GSgKl7p364x9kgGwVfsTGfYavC6G/s400/20110630+Institute+024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627948547978277426" /></a><br /><br />On the 4th of July weekend we noted that even though most went home for the weekend, there were still a few of us here, so we all got together for a barbeque followed by going to the local fireworks shows....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmA61CqP3yn1XKzZAcLRCVf2R1sUJED-YfPatvR6QKLwMsy-UEG1oUhPNkteGsmm6iljCi1fWyjIAv9DO6ik1GlJR9cm6ekqOtcuZfr2T6_5-gpvzU4WkNjRfo6n0EAPTuL_9qJ0Gzr7C/s1600/20110630+Institute+039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmA61CqP3yn1XKzZAcLRCVf2R1sUJED-YfPatvR6QKLwMsy-UEG1oUhPNkteGsmm6iljCi1fWyjIAv9DO6ik1GlJR9cm6ekqOtcuZfr2T6_5-gpvzU4WkNjRfo6n0EAPTuL_9qJ0Gzr7C/s400/20110630+Institute+039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627947717997726258" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf79FRLQQKnNh6ox9PasHsVlJFpxx_TlUYzUJ-nWhNYss-assL4uYayUx58XBIT9UxBm-J4d23Z2w-Q-yK2pF6pxJhbzAYGVrSUDGLJ61j2sxoLr-6mKOEym1eyQhxuLz-t463GoRHoRt/s1600/20110630+Institute+040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf79FRLQQKnNh6ox9PasHsVlJFpxx_TlUYzUJ-nWhNYss-assL4uYayUx58XBIT9UxBm-J4d23Z2w-Q-yK2pF6pxJhbzAYGVrSUDGLJ61j2sxoLr-6mKOEym1eyQhxuLz-t463GoRHoRt/s400/20110630+Institute+040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627947520975055954" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj1CIn9oqQR95cJnG0llJNsAtmGiXX8fl2iTbBZbR47kn3nfa49jWUr4vmnD_wULPF9b83DQIP_DtWBvg2RGt34x04bYcJmhRTWJxV_k00YqTog1CWdu1fjhu5FxuUtu8qGvOyi3cZNI9/s1600/20110630+Institute+038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj1CIn9oqQR95cJnG0llJNsAtmGiXX8fl2iTbBZbR47kn3nfa49jWUr4vmnD_wULPF9b83DQIP_DtWBvg2RGt34x04bYcJmhRTWJxV_k00YqTog1CWdu1fjhu5FxuUtu8qGvOyi3cZNI9/s400/20110630+Institute+038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627947242161298610" /></a><br /><br /><br />We moved in June to an apartment down the hall that we liked better because it had a deck. Note the bird feeders...we have lot's of company!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PBjp0sS9czzk-SyN-XwMSgygy4Wlk81HLLrtwwfsv7FeCZPj4ugfE9ij3e_0pyW-6jmCY49aQncA_Oe78DEZGy7MC-H7rJ94-ocGSV0vCdtoYGbNQ-rTAkCRyHJiOxBTc5Pyfw828wae/s1600/20110630+Institute+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PBjp0sS9czzk-SyN-XwMSgygy4Wlk81HLLrtwwfsv7FeCZPj4ugfE9ij3e_0pyW-6jmCY49aQncA_Oe78DEZGy7MC-H7rJ94-ocGSV0vCdtoYGbNQ-rTAkCRyHJiOxBTc5Pyfw828wae/s400/20110630+Institute+009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627946746629662242" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few weeks ago we had a slight lull in our teaching schedule between the two MSU summer teaching blocks, so we finally had some time to take advantage of the admonition of President Jones, our mission president, to "see more of northern Michigan". I've mentioned before that Michigan has two land masses...the Lower Peninsula (shaped like a "mitten"), and the Upper Peninsula (above the Mackinac Straits, between the north end of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Michiganders(!) refer to people living in the upper peninsula as "Yoopers", as in UP or Upper Peninsula, and "Trolls", as in living "below the bridge".<br /><br />Sooooo, we headed north...<br /><br />Two lighthouses in Cheboygan, on the north east corner of the lower Michigan peninsula facing Lake Huron.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEfnvkaSMiYDqc1npnZUtdb0hgrTXWefVmJslSIMSEEk83Xan3tQ1gfUq4I7UThl9YsNGCVLR3ga6nMuFzcRwZn7NbKOwz5_1rlFsOjWP8LxlrjNxtATV_dte1LOOGA_olAS1l_XLLVnU/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEfnvkaSMiYDqc1npnZUtdb0hgrTXWefVmJslSIMSEEk83Xan3tQ1gfUq4I7UThl9YsNGCVLR3ga6nMuFzcRwZn7NbKOwz5_1rlFsOjWP8LxlrjNxtATV_dte1LOOGA_olAS1l_XLLVnU/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+250.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627940326455363970" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieorfnkXIXhyinAMjIPNh8sG-sLcBb4hXXndlbcbBLcil8xYGtZt20YES2LQ-17t1ubxRDpbOHcQ2ge6GCbw9tVZHx_qLS_sQLJtBdQwT_inIBJtWye9SGtz7rosLEGAIh5tLoUxP6JytM/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieorfnkXIXhyinAMjIPNh8sG-sLcBb4hXXndlbcbBLcil8xYGtZt20YES2LQ-17t1ubxRDpbOHcQ2ge6GCbw9tVZHx_qLS_sQLJtBdQwT_inIBJtWye9SGtz7rosLEGAIh5tLoUxP6JytM/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627940022129160434" /></a><br /><br /><br />We spent a couple days on Mackinac Island (pronounced MackinAW), a tourist destination since the early 19th century! Ferry ride to get there, no cars allowed, just horses and bicycles. Beautiful place with tons of old world charm and great "Mackinac Island Fudge"....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcaO51ki-vfKOn4PPVtOhTTb-Q0ZmvW8mZake2iyfhNNShwzuv2H9UsnxFOxyeXzVNxQrQHUiH1Ua__NYGoJ-WYBjvlp_FYV6sKMHsD8JCwX3YmcXl4rck-uIVaS4b3qwNemSW_BVU3CD/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcaO51ki-vfKOn4PPVtOhTTb-Q0ZmvW8mZake2iyfhNNShwzuv2H9UsnxFOxyeXzVNxQrQHUiH1Ua__NYGoJ-WYBjvlp_FYV6sKMHsD8JCwX3YmcXl4rck-uIVaS4b3qwNemSW_BVU3CD/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627938675802967986" /></a><br /><br />We stayed in the Mission Point hotel. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O7g8NqPN-yr7sQr0ZDXK0fjg2HlI68OVmQBsnIgsi932nQiWpc_bjPcXKHzHEtS5SabQkFln60XwpsLUry06EvH-dCgsk_sCgx42S7OjmrX0yeCzzIPsXEK1j90E7U5u625IlPv-f5b6/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O7g8NqPN-yr7sQr0ZDXK0fjg2HlI68OVmQBsnIgsi932nQiWpc_bjPcXKHzHEtS5SabQkFln60XwpsLUry06EvH-dCgsk_sCgx42S7OjmrX0yeCzzIPsXEK1j90E7U5u625IlPv-f5b6/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627938016467774098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k9uakHwAs7TwYk8JDvL5g20dmTIU6elxcAKZeaavyhkhOaRDFgmfCennXbWR4s28QxlZExv0rhqQn59c165b0X7YSe7Ml0_lDV6uVOHZDdzG1E8tQCrNxiCGRnspYD0QAENIqM1yodJX/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k9uakHwAs7TwYk8JDvL5g20dmTIU6elxcAKZeaavyhkhOaRDFgmfCennXbWR4s28QxlZExv0rhqQn59c165b0X7YSe7Ml0_lDV6uVOHZDdzG1E8tQCrNxiCGRnspYD0QAENIqM1yodJX/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627937841455312994" /></a><br /><br />We rode bikes around the island...about 8 miles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDbs1DBO3_nU3WVgGlW2TvM8MXc61SjzaViW0lgsDOD44YcL8m8OVf6qhIvc8Pa1wD4GyhKM7zTL2QJE_ls0aQzyzdnNA0I2ckRdprb7unWgolDIilPxwcDgWts6TLe3j2aPLT2cBRupY/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDbs1DBO3_nU3WVgGlW2TvM8MXc61SjzaViW0lgsDOD44YcL8m8OVf6qhIvc8Pa1wD4GyhKM7zTL2QJE_ls0aQzyzdnNA0I2ckRdprb7unWgolDIilPxwcDgWts6TLe3j2aPLT2cBRupY/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627937523081238626" /></a><br /><br />The famous Grand Hotel. That front veranda is over 600 feet long!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TJGGz1KMzEQzlNQVW9vQ7PPrKoNxV4JfV7Pm0jbx_j-lWcWK_NRKaAOAMjEoED2-8W907q8dvfHcV_5OLXNlKi0EvNK8DbgDFCT-cBa8RWSR3ijVYan1xCNhC8OGPIbtJYX9v_7QWbdh/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TJGGz1KMzEQzlNQVW9vQ7PPrKoNxV4JfV7Pm0jbx_j-lWcWK_NRKaAOAMjEoED2-8W907q8dvfHcV_5OLXNlKi0EvNK8DbgDFCT-cBa8RWSR3ijVYan1xCNhC8OGPIbtJYX9v_7QWbdh/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627937123889701938" /></a><br /><br />Old Fort Mackinac<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaSW7nCvcaJsxxkflB9tvK83Y4DMcT4oPu4m20dnuf6A26dyO51oGK2FNq-4T361ln-AYXmaySpBdc6Q-fHnkDevS3eOgbuROYKgYS1FAwu8ov7cqPg0AIFUjpo4ifx9-EyA7_0K6jsXV/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaSW7nCvcaJsxxkflB9tvK83Y4DMcT4oPu4m20dnuf6A26dyO51oGK2FNq-4T361ln-AYXmaySpBdc6Q-fHnkDevS3eOgbuROYKgYS1FAwu8ov7cqPg0AIFUjpo4ifx9-EyA7_0K6jsXV/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627936824463910226" /></a><br /><br /><div>Some more Mackinac Island scenes....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrgfXUkMSlHNN_S5edjrn3WtUxhqTShRc7R4cLcbbLiN6yFabUd9oMXdhqeD0jJxpFAW5lIXyETspJeTfIQ9vKBEGSRzvpcMIBi6XIZvsN4tyXpg9Lbuxyok3-kRHCClAwBscyHOWgnX9/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627935815630387682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrgfXUkMSlHNN_S5edjrn3WtUxhqTShRc7R4cLcbbLiN6yFabUd9oMXdhqeD0jJxpFAW5lIXyETspJeTfIQ9vKBEGSRzvpcMIBi6XIZvsN4tyXpg9Lbuxyok3-kRHCClAwBscyHOWgnX9/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+052.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8RSH1mvd_AW8vP2xgJf1JZw2nFfC8v-EHbHNnHYGElZWtvPX2CmOuC40mEt90u7TmIu5KnVUWFPLKHYAMxjE8Qob31zkfp5n_9vpVf2znsDeOBnZpy1mAE8Sfk-cfWkfKocmkcDwcPva/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627935011516011874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8RSH1mvd_AW8vP2xgJf1JZw2nFfC8v-EHbHNnHYGElZWtvPX2CmOuC40mEt90u7TmIu5KnVUWFPLKHYAMxjE8Qob31zkfp5n_9vpVf2znsDeOBnZpy1mAE8Sfk-cfWkfKocmkcDwcPva/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+043.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sKmdG6wqTIjm_KGek4jOaaUbKmH5NvgJTT7qjS8XeGufNtdw1KjwMqx5LD877CAwKH5yX30yLopE2WVPKpKbvtKG30tSfnyUyBzyQNDea9PScDlAeqm6s-3resqrVaHEICmXBYsmG8h-/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934854457169874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sKmdG6wqTIjm_KGek4jOaaUbKmH5NvgJTT7qjS8XeGufNtdw1KjwMqx5LD877CAwKH5yX30yLopE2WVPKpKbvtKG30tSfnyUyBzyQNDea9PScDlAeqm6s-3resqrVaHEICmXBYsmG8h-/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+061.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeQQ7LB2Vg1cawKfZpUo0S1DgmR5H30aZoL5eot5UnXzww8MRi9MlSyY4sjrqOPd-vn7j451lHvXC8IQAEnSFEbSTknzmMBKsmEuyoBmz-AlWJXTUd9eeIiplVnzCxz-VGfm52MCOmg4e/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+078.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934725993909986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeQQ7LB2Vg1cawKfZpUo0S1DgmR5H30aZoL5eot5UnXzww8MRi9MlSyY4sjrqOPd-vn7j451lHvXC8IQAEnSFEbSTknzmMBKsmEuyoBmz-AlWJXTUd9eeIiplVnzCxz-VGfm52MCOmg4e/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+078.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zGYwT18SBxJB9cfjkuj6rwCZMhe2JbxGAtcfLXPz3grDSv4X1Y7rVV_Ev29TC9w02pIXoc7rlWwVF_XUD6oEvFxM-hAmM11Oan2drdubiBShaV8I7gbcCEHgMlELJGaPa_-KXXCRbeRE/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+096.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934583376671762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zGYwT18SBxJB9cfjkuj6rwCZMhe2JbxGAtcfLXPz3grDSv4X1Y7rVV_Ev29TC9w02pIXoc7rlWwVF_XUD6oEvFxM-hAmM11Oan2drdubiBShaV8I7gbcCEHgMlELJGaPa_-KXXCRbeRE/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+096.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTMCCRpnqs9iWKUYusSSUHqMXsZcoRhiO2z2IDBXJCz10cjwwPPJSQO9KoISbMKJ_tdpKKhS0FnMUMVGnq9TcgRTXbaDcbjqzjBSj6nUMWNtzTF3av9zVfOWUMF3ZyfZ42b6dg3avdrBk/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+108.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934460264895682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTMCCRpnqs9iWKUYusSSUHqMXsZcoRhiO2z2IDBXJCz10cjwwPPJSQO9KoISbMKJ_tdpKKhS0FnMUMVGnq9TcgRTXbaDcbjqzjBSj6nUMWNtzTF3av9zVfOWUMF3ZyfZ42b6dg3avdrBk/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+108.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL_yMb3TRpMt83M1WlieVBDSEU8ZpICS7h6z_59L_jniPVvFStJlpKavLTtmZgx2WnAqAGcGb_NfZE_MsmTRZIwUKtW33r9FolLIWZczlF-1ufEDQ7s35AyKpf58yUjaZAWpk7DUQ6vJL/s1600/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934316954322194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL_yMb3TRpMt83M1WlieVBDSEU8ZpICS7h6z_59L_jniPVvFStJlpKavLTtmZgx2WnAqAGcGb_NfZE_MsmTRZIwUKtW33r9FolLIWZczlF-1ufEDQ7s35AyKpf58yUjaZAWpk7DUQ6vJL/s400/20110623+Mackinaw+Island+110.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutEarSx-AYEYOQuF30rG2Idp5msfr7RLNrFXs13oDE_aCkyS8ovgxVCAo-bXiMt4ZwedRY6NhyYcV_MG8zl_4R6aXkFCVnAZgu4MwVmzD7QXYot1U4StAXSd8ZesKokNM97B9QPXc-4hk/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934176947007522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutEarSx-AYEYOQuF30rG2Idp5msfr7RLNrFXs13oDE_aCkyS8ovgxVCAo-bXiMt4ZwedRY6NhyYcV_MG8zl_4R6aXkFCVnAZgu4MwVmzD7QXYot1U4StAXSd8ZesKokNM97B9QPXc-4hk/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHFcR2PyN2Y7uHAdAogJa0DwQX38td3j9boj8xJ5xvJUYq4ExJRJWNQVQ7lgsSxTy3hyghIjfDiyg9Kn47R2x1ZN5Zl-D71DbgYBsF8Q5ea8itxXbn-QDQrbUS_TUJEpHgYQMmEXwnEcm/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627934024750272658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHFcR2PyN2Y7uHAdAogJa0DwQX38td3j9boj8xJ5xvJUYq4ExJRJWNQVQ7lgsSxTy3hyghIjfDiyg9Kn47R2x1ZN5Zl-D71DbgYBsF8Q5ea8itxXbn-QDQrbUS_TUJEpHgYQMmEXwnEcm/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+051.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJz5nuGua7Xi7LLr8UIXIBK16ItjwaFTXq_5FD1btEA96vdVaEfI2GQPIBCUQHCc006Pzx4JGyQ3ezdZeEVbQc5Xz7gqtoUZWxTRnYS0TlpiltxvKfi47dfie6ciTcr4qbXRHdCM1xTXC0/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627933696144306978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJz5nuGua7Xi7LLr8UIXIBK16ItjwaFTXq_5FD1btEA96vdVaEfI2GQPIBCUQHCc006Pzx4JGyQ3ezdZeEVbQc5Xz7gqtoUZWxTRnYS0TlpiltxvKfi47dfie6ciTcr4qbXRHdCM1xTXC0/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+055.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kGKuHivL9DslYs8MtTkBYRzB3SN9CTP1fqLdVa3xJUFpiBL8Bd94X4ZTSXr467s4Stx_Hhka6GOryOIhQRJgfBvs_mgke6mbS3snzYtxF8gfTrKXQgFla9DqRxZo1RaTS9cDZpxbu6dx/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627933513002990738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kGKuHivL9DslYs8MtTkBYRzB3SN9CTP1fqLdVa3xJUFpiBL8Bd94X4ZTSXr467s4Stx_Hhka6GOryOIhQRJgfBvs_mgke6mbS3snzYtxF8gfTrKXQgFla9DqRxZo1RaTS9cDZpxbu6dx/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+073.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDkpw3Oyzu_ptSazd3VXIt7CfE0P9OJ7SU0pbEKbixxp0sFAbrkqyAszfiDfx6V4P19PDpRoZpWgPbjud9m4dwlWa39j-XfVJFkJ2uAqnfJvqomt1y3jvCY2PBZdEoIpeLFnM9qm8uQQR/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627933288737478594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDkpw3Oyzu_ptSazd3VXIt7CfE0P9OJ7SU0pbEKbixxp0sFAbrkqyAszfiDfx6V4P19PDpRoZpWgPbjud9m4dwlWa39j-XfVJFkJ2uAqnfJvqomt1y3jvCY2PBZdEoIpeLFnM9qm8uQQR/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+090.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbkflvrgWYAeyZpPy6QkszwJ1hKec1VRQGKoizVb0Njn49fj0f6hsK8_kO-qWC9eg1pEBseB_Pe3YbShPwGU2VSAe-DXM4vIgq1rZYtq3h5bvBpd468LR9_PS_lsRod1dfI7zwW4TOlAc/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+094.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627933069840899730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbkflvrgWYAeyZpPy6QkszwJ1hKec1VRQGKoizVb0Njn49fj0f6hsK8_kO-qWC9eg1pEBseB_Pe3YbShPwGU2VSAe-DXM4vIgq1rZYtq3h5bvBpd468LR9_PS_lsRod1dfI7zwW4TOlAc/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+094.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Mackinac Island Light<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnGIYk6tvPsub_CMiqSAnDTrilshBAF9S89f6uq9Zsb_reaTZxIWur2nXu1DSDP84TxppiRtj1Vlepye6ykWVfuZXPbDhrhX7NAkatfNAT1bBMZJlQgIwxYNWosJg0Ph6aiybSLuDaCgD/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+093.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627932721949561874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnGIYk6tvPsub_CMiqSAnDTrilshBAF9S89f6uq9Zsb_reaTZxIWur2nXu1DSDP84TxppiRtj1Vlepye6ykWVfuZXPbDhrhX7NAkatfNAT1bBMZJlQgIwxYNWosJg0Ph6aiybSLuDaCgD/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+093.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Round Island Light on Round Island across from the harbor at Mackinac Island.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA9L1U95hq7LHhD3qjv64xwZ8xT5aXQZF32nbHX8QPCW3uhZAViAuy0iEv548SoHR84IyDBxZu4ozYPQviBEdbHkTBJx6S94ixvv-jMz36laKAMqFqgERcZXT43cA-6OPgdvI84ryJIns/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+100.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627931931233133282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA9L1U95hq7LHhD3qjv64xwZ8xT5aXQZF32nbHX8QPCW3uhZAViAuy0iEv548SoHR84IyDBxZu4ozYPQviBEdbHkTBJx6S94ixvv-jMz36laKAMqFqgERcZXT43cA-6OPgdvI84ryJIns/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+100.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, on the Mackinaw City side.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuzIFTVatF5NiR16334rOiRAtVoBUiPpYGNSOkbslh1IjTaohe3ARziqW-tYWdWo-RQQWG9251MN8Cd5x2nwcS4cR-JZJwToQBgUlDCGfX6H0Oz43GMDMpn6UC0l204QeRyr0SuxsTtha/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+135.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627930971356373970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuzIFTVatF5NiR16334rOiRAtVoBUiPpYGNSOkbslh1IjTaohe3ARziqW-tYWdWo-RQQWG9251MN8Cd5x2nwcS4cR-JZJwToQBgUlDCGfX6H0Oz43GMDMpn6UC0l204QeRyr0SuxsTtha/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+135.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The incredible Mackinac (say MackinAW) Bridge which crosses the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron on the north end. Completed in 1957, it is the worlds second longest suspension bridge at 4 miles length...not to mention beautiful to look at!<br /><br />Factoids for the next time you run out of things to talk about at a party:<br />20% of the world's fresh water is in the Great Lakes!<br />30% of the Great Lake's water is in Lake Superior, the largest lake!<br />If ALL the water in the Great Lakes was spread evenly across the US, it would cover the US with 9.6 ft depth of water!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgcR0Ot7AVL7HV_R1Dz8S9DTd-2zifvyUB_2nPutWm4wxco-ztmNDPQIzqJZ3y_EEyxRxpOf5M_dqG04rNuYEhoLXnpussQhLPCnaG1OfLJPYVySGd0V7-dRn2bjBZoWBfaLAhwLkPG7a/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+132.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627929107794057938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgcR0Ot7AVL7HV_R1Dz8S9DTd-2zifvyUB_2nPutWm4wxco-ztmNDPQIzqJZ3y_EEyxRxpOf5M_dqG04rNuYEhoLXnpussQhLPCnaG1OfLJPYVySGd0V7-dRn2bjBZoWBfaLAhwLkPG7a/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+132.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Huge ore freighter traversing the "Soo Locks" on the American side at Sault St. Marie. These locks - the first ones initially and incredibly built in 1855(!) - lower ships the 21 ft height differential between Lake Superior down to Lake Huron. Prior to the locks, folks with large canoes, boats, etc had to portage over land down this part of the St. Mary river.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0sBpcj-43tzqPHysUcFXCquGE1RL4jugANcloANh9TzbwYtUOOU106OzIi91DJu_m4jbLOSKkGId03W2FT_OJVbqcZz6HSniJyLc60siO_Mjv3wj2PAr7DTLrpi-SebPzrW9u40WyfB9/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+145.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627927476525635426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0sBpcj-43tzqPHysUcFXCquGE1RL4jugANcloANh9TzbwYtUOOU106OzIi91DJu_m4jbLOSKkGId03W2FT_OJVbqcZz6HSniJyLc60siO_Mjv3wj2PAr7DTLrpi-SebPzrW9u40WyfB9/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+145.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Leaving the Soo Locks eastbound on the St. Mary's river with a load of iron ore pellets.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4YfOcHpsYMC0nD-_a1-0DI5yrqPXEZoBmAjqpi-MGK30EtEHX9hH3fv2cdjO5bed0o6tVu-aSzVMlgBrzzzxIiOew1Vq9eITO-FhaqdRQXfAMCQA-o7-igCBDT2mf7tpVnAKd825AUQU/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+160.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627926324897978322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4YfOcHpsYMC0nD-_a1-0DI5yrqPXEZoBmAjqpi-MGK30EtEHX9hH3fv2cdjO5bed0o6tVu-aSzVMlgBrzzzxIiOew1Vq9eITO-FhaqdRQXfAMCQA-o7-igCBDT2mf7tpVnAKd825AUQU/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+160.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Whitefish Point Lighthouse and Foghorn. Beautifully restored, it also features a well known Shipwreck Museum with lot's of information on the many Lake Superior shipwrecks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb80rkcMSuUMABT4_KcFvWvh902caat7VIp8vxsOK9F1LqwJr9wM_B4bUF6oHxPJeKeNo7yPYHxm-j954Dk29Jt_5d7aXxdrKEr25ItEa6Ku9XllEz_jmEzFJPzJ7ivJxb2vJgWivWB97c/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+173.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627925496015985378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb80rkcMSuUMABT4_KcFvWvh902caat7VIp8vxsOK9F1LqwJr9wM_B4bUF6oHxPJeKeNo7yPYHxm-j954Dk29Jt_5d7aXxdrKEr25ItEa6Ku9XllEz_jmEzFJPzJ7ivJxb2vJgWivWB97c/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+173.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Looking north across Lake Superior from Whitefish Point. 17 miles offshore in 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 730 ft long ore ship outbound from the Minnesota iron mines went down in 570 ft of water with all hands in a fierce winter storm featuring 30 plus foot waves and a lot of wind and ice. That inspired the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" ballad that was a hit for Gordon Lightfoot. It was just one of literally thousands of shipwrecks recorded in the history of Lake Superior!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZTc88cmesl3HfLEVR_uqd3QI75qCliwj2htzsQXf4CFhiTkW37vDH_G1rULDk00OBqpvwlF6ars950kIqErn9SfQhZCBX0M5amw98QuU74Qud5ZVh9gLwooklWQr-07CLGF6W3nU11us/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+177.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627923823753621378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZTc88cmesl3HfLEVR_uqd3QI75qCliwj2htzsQXf4CFhiTkW37vDH_G1rULDk00OBqpvwlF6ars950kIqErn9SfQhZCBX0M5amw98QuU74Qud5ZVh9gLwooklWQr-07CLGF6W3nU11us/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+177.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This is Tahquamenon Falls on the upper peninsula. Beautifully brown, the water gets it's color from the tannin in all the leaves in the river.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbK9IcJbDAOYjs6xcbbzjS4CovqYRn2x5iyJqll3rwG1i81bhSwzQwbbII09NXJSejnRa_1uU2Riq1jTRhNTGLW2-7y6xChsdcRi35baYc-V0eTGKKeeo04_VEkNOVyhW6QV8tUu2ghRg/s1600/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+241.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627922222375787506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbK9IcJbDAOYjs6xcbbzjS4CovqYRn2x5iyJqll3rwG1i81bhSwzQwbbII09NXJSejnRa_1uU2Riq1jTRhNTGLW2-7y6xChsdcRi35baYc-V0eTGKKeeo04_VEkNOVyhW6QV8tUu2ghRg/s400/20110624+Mackinaw+Island+and+UP+241.JPG" /></a><br /><br />On our preparation day a couple Saturday's ago we went to the Annual Air Show in Battle Creek. One of those nice muggy "91 degrees but feels like 105 degrees" days with the humidity. I do believe Karen is not really fond of this beautiful summer weather! Her words "...I felt like I was going to die." And she wasn't even in an airplane!<br /><br />Here's a couple of the aerobatic planes...they were really fantastic and some of these guys seemed to be flaunting all the laws of aeronautics while flying VERY close to the ground. Virtually no margin for error!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qGxizByEmDTKcSq-wfz_ZfYfOBJlbWcwZa42n7NnxZ-SNHMTJU1xY3Wm20pR5lU6RT8GSfmnC9wAL1uoK8DDcZyVLDWhPjZ6LPgEr4CKauXXpvofB4ATrWtbsG-IEBqqJTE4zZiT1Zve/s1600/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+096.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627920137456807074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qGxizByEmDTKcSq-wfz_ZfYfOBJlbWcwZa42n7NnxZ-SNHMTJU1xY3Wm20pR5lU6RT8GSfmnC9wAL1uoK8DDcZyVLDWhPjZ6LPgEr4CKauXXpvofB4ATrWtbsG-IEBqqJTE4zZiT1Zve/s400/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+096.JPG" /></a><br /><br />An amazing wing walker...on this pass she is standing on her head!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaJWT7kTf2Sn3pt4fKNq-8lHZhyphenhyphen4EWaC45Y_gwxQTFNS4-UenW5qlQn7ZlPD6y1LjOzB0dqXUMNA_9iZOd84C_EAK1NnjSvwTNX7CXDWQv64pp6uqszlsQTfR-Gi5LH_btjTdi_Y2DPsW/s1600/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+145.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627919752715091074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaJWT7kTf2Sn3pt4fKNq-8lHZhyphenhyphen4EWaC45Y_gwxQTFNS4-UenW5qlQn7ZlPD6y1LjOzB0dqXUMNA_9iZOd84C_EAK1NnjSvwTNX7CXDWQv64pp6uqszlsQTfR-Gi5LH_btjTdi_Y2DPsW/s400/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+145.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Blue Angels were incredible!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgIW3mHrq8ssSIPjcDHoAmmI-r1uK6krByyeCBwzjRLNPNKSi0Ornb27GGm4royCgNF1S2-79aurDaYG7b6ss5XDWcGkdnxFxNTbkTCzQ6EyVq4vXGubVhxP_rTgZ3Mvr8JR55o0hOVVS/s1600/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+235.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627919423533043122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgIW3mHrq8ssSIPjcDHoAmmI-r1uK6krByyeCBwzjRLNPNKSi0Ornb27GGm4royCgNF1S2-79aurDaYG7b6ss5XDWcGkdnxFxNTbkTCzQ6EyVq4vXGubVhxP_rTgZ3Mvr8JR55o0hOVVS/s400/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+235.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Battle Creek MI always comes to mind as the HQ for the Big 3 of the cereal world - Post, Kelloggs, and Ralston. You may remember that a few weeks ago we went to the "Cereal Festival", of all things!<br /><br />Here's the "mother ship" for Post Cereals<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2uoGg3M-N-3yYl_GMgsE_V01xdT2PPDS24TVENAqtWwU2QLNKmY0o2vLqAgB8A7MKgR9G17IFE-Kk5VR813DEJBbvrSY0HSijO8iebgZS9htc4qY0xty2yNJ3rjcaCGEwDUb6Ccp_cOD/s1600/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+255.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627918179661278290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2uoGg3M-N-3yYl_GMgsE_V01xdT2PPDS24TVENAqtWwU2QLNKmY0o2vLqAgB8A7MKgR9G17IFE-Kk5VR813DEJBbvrSY0HSijO8iebgZS9htc4qY0xty2yNJ3rjcaCGEwDUb6Ccp_cOD/s400/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+255.JPG" /></a><br /><br />...and here's the Kellogg headquarter's<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZYMPfK4EKt0sSes5L5U0LzaqWZUYGskcmHkqUd8q7NkQ-N7J8h8JbJADM9Qg8bGIHrH9zoEJHG_wOOxqITVpy6Xu1R_K0F3pjaVtbG6GE6M10QPPup4LDPhmtBCPm0F9NdPZLkM6Og5/s1600/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+260.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627917588992539778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZYMPfK4EKt0sSes5L5U0LzaqWZUYGskcmHkqUd8q7NkQ-N7J8h8JbJADM9Qg8bGIHrH9zoEJHG_wOOxqITVpy6Xu1R_K0F3pjaVtbG6GE6M10QPPup4LDPhmtBCPm0F9NdPZLkM6Og5/s400/20110702+Battle+Creek+Air+Show+260.JPG" /></a> </div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-60705298039346429272011-06-20T13:42:00.000-07:002011-06-20T15:22:14.737-07:00We've Moved!All the college kids here were moving apartments, so we didn't want to be left out of the whole moving thing. Guess we have a case of MOS (Missing Out Syndrome) Actually we had always planned to move into an end apartment with a balcony as soon as one came available. As we were arranging the funiture and deciding where to hang pictures, etc., I told Craig that we are just like a couple of newlyweds in our cute little apartment getting things all organized. We are now all settled and we actually just love our new apartment.<br /><br />Last night in Devotional here in our apartment complex Matt Pace, one of the young men, shared a talk by Elder Hugh B. Brown and I especially liked this story. I thought it was especially inspirational to me as I wondered when we got our mission call why we were called to serve in Michigan instead of some third world country or another part of the world.<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Currant Bush</strong> by Elder Hugh B. Brown of the Council of the Twelve<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />.<br />"You sometimes wonder whether the Lord really knows what he ought to do with you. You sometimes wonder if you know better than he does about what you ought to do and ought to become. I am wondering if I may tell you a story that I have told quite often in the Church. It is a story that is older than you are. It’s a piece out of my own life, and I’ve told it in many stakes and missions. It has to do with an incident in my life when God showed me that he knew best.<br /><br />I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it, and smiled, and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’”<br /><br />Time passed. Years passed, and I found myself in England. I was in command of a cavalry unit in the Canadian Army. I had made rather rapid progress as far as promotions are concerned, and I held the rank of field officer in the British Canadian Army. And I was proud of my position. And there was an opportunity for me to become a general. I had taken all the examinations. I had the seniority. There was just one man between me and that which for ten years I had hoped to get, the office of general in the British Army. I swelled up with pride. And this one man became a casualty, and I received a telegram from London. It said: “Be in my office tomorrow morning at 10:00,” signed by General Turner in charge of all Canadian forces. I called in my valet, my personal servant. I told him to polish my buttons, to brush my hat and my boots, and to make me look like a general because that is what I was going to be. He did the best he could with what he had to work on, and I went up to London. I walked smartly into the office of the General, and I saluted him smartly, and he gave me the same kind of a salute a senior officer usually gives—a sort of “Get out of the way, worm!” He said, “Sit down, Brown.” Then he said, “I’m sorry I cannot make the appointment. You are entitled to it. You have passed all the examinations. You have the seniority. You’ve been a good officer, but I can’t make the appointment. You are to return to Canada and become a training officer and a transport officer. Someone else will be made a general.” That for which I had been hoping and praying for ten years suddenly slipped out of my fingers.<br /><br />Then he went into the other room to answer the telephone, and I took a soldier’s privilege of looking on his desk. I saw my personal history sheet. Right across the bottom of it in bold, block-type letters was written, “THIS MAN IS A MORMON.” We were not very well liked in those days. When I saw that, I knew why I had not been appointed. I already held the highest rank of any Mormon in the British Army. He came back and said, “That’s all, Brown.” I saluted him again, but not quite as smartly. I saluted out of duty and went out. I got on the train and started back to my town, 120 miles away, with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. And every click of the wheels on the rails seemed to say, “You are a failure. You will be called a coward when you get home. You raised all those Mormon boys to join the army, then you sneak off home.” I knew what I was going to get, and when I got to my tent, I was so bitter that I threw my cap and my saddle brown belt on the cot. I clinched my fists and I shook them at heaven. I said, “How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?” I was as bitter as gall.<br /><br />And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, “I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.” The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness and my bitterness. While kneeling there I heard a song being sung in an adjoining tent. A number of Mormon boys met regularly every Tuesday night. I usually met with them. We would sit on the floor and have a Mutual Improvement Association. As I was kneeling there, praying for forgiveness, I heard their voices singing:<br /><br />“It may not be on the mountain height<br />Or over the stormy sea;<br />It may not be at the battle’s front<br />My Lord will have need of me;<br />But if, by a still, small voice he calls<br />To paths that I do not know,<br />I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:<br />I’ll go where you want me to go.”<br />(Hymns, no. 75.)<br /><br />I arose from my knees a humble man. And now, almost fifty years later, I look up to him and say, “Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.” I see now that it was wise that I should not become a general at that time, because if I had I would have been senior officer of all western Canada, with a lifelong, handsome salary, a place to live, and a pension when I’m no good any longer, but I would have raised my six daughters and two sons in army barracks. They would no doubt have married out of the Church, and I think I would not have amounted to anything. I haven’t amounted to very much as it is, but I have done better than I would have done if the Lord had let me go the way I wanted to go.<br /><br />I wanted to tell you that oft-repeated story because there are many of you who are going to have some very difficult experiences: disappointment, heartbreak, bereavement, defeat. You are going to be tested and tried to prove what you are made of. I just want you to know that if you don’t get what you think you ought to get, remember, “God is the gardener here. He knows what he wants you to be.” Submit yourselves to his will. Be worthy of his blessings, and you will get his blessings. "<br /><em>Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<br />© 2011 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved<br /></em>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-87266761225868212792011-06-12T19:41:00.000-07:002011-06-12T20:14:31.715-07:00Love TeachingI feel so blessed to have the opportunity to teach Institute classes. How great is it to be able to actually have time to really study the scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ? This summer I am teaching the course entitled, Teachings of the Living Prophets. It is such a great opportunity to teach these amazing young people about the blessing of living in a day when living prophets are upon the earth and help them know that Heavenly Father speaks today as He has in all dispensations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlwuSTQxgz6fe52nDnF7dJ94-G_SHw_2IqD7ypMwFMDn9mkXztusx-phfPLRM6QHdAF5jqQA4hj_eJvu4JBvFiD_GwJMX9Hhm1P4q4193K55QIj7R8R-7KA-laqqTHBC7pz-ijpOSCDE/s1600/Cereal+Festival+20110611+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617533118930419682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlwuSTQxgz6fe52nDnF7dJ94-G_SHw_2IqD7ypMwFMDn9mkXztusx-phfPLRM6QHdAF5jqQA4hj_eJvu4JBvFiD_GwJMX9Hhm1P4q4193K55QIj7R8R-7KA-laqqTHBC7pz-ijpOSCDE/s400/Cereal+Festival+20110611+004.JPG" /></a><br />After attending the Detroit Temple on Thursday, we took the opportunity to visit The Henry Ford Greenfield Village, which is one of the best historical attractions in the United States—the Wright Brother’s original workshop, Thomas Edison’s lab, George Washington Carver’s log house, etc., etc.<br />Brian Kinghorn and family invited us to the annual Cereal Festival in Battle Creek on Saturday and going to a cereal festival was definitely a first for us. We had breakfast with the whole town.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjp4sEXB-CoXPD5d6eO10D8HsJbsWzBiqeokjJgaKAGMS3fo4FvOyNyM1ahNcinhd7GzVU5v5IfNLuI7p6yR9ctcjfjHwp1qGG5UypdvT3nFmNW551D33M1Hm8B3QEaNKxOQsr-Tla0PE/s1600/Cereal+Festival+20110611+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617533000463412002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjp4sEXB-CoXPD5d6eO10D8HsJbsWzBiqeokjJgaKAGMS3fo4FvOyNyM1ahNcinhd7GzVU5v5IfNLuI7p6yR9ctcjfjHwp1qGG5UypdvT3nFmNW551D33M1Hm8B3QEaNKxOQsr-Tla0PE/s400/Cereal+Festival+20110611+024.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Kinghorn Family<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGHhx87NPXiqKuX63DfX2ONfgP9yGIOUDfst5X8iVaMVNDJseqpBOgYLJy2XzrENiAsAUF95vBMnNQGRB8M-wE_F1RCtJRrisf-y_6HlKybXyzl1ADhCMWlToRRXVUhLKECGvJjWqjEk/s1600/Cereal+Festival+20110611+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617532833399509362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGHhx87NPXiqKuX63DfX2ONfgP9yGIOUDfst5X8iVaMVNDJseqpBOgYLJy2XzrENiAsAUF95vBMnNQGRB8M-wE_F1RCtJRrisf-y_6HlKybXyzl1ADhCMWlToRRXVUhLKECGvJjWqjEk/s400/Cereal+Festival+20110611+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Michigan is such a beautiful place.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClA1OhkNEAWhhRI8uGa8wR7n-S8g5_QAQHRSTvB_SPOCF5nPo0R7IXwYdxsZ3TthKGCOC9M1_jywT1cypEN_JRE0VLYRs1ggZEoesH7mV99V6kAKxn_sJmJBnFqmmQogDNzK498hlW6c/s1600/Covered+Bridges+20110604+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617532650401090082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClA1OhkNEAWhhRI8uGa8wR7n-S8g5_QAQHRSTvB_SPOCF5nPo0R7IXwYdxsZ3TthKGCOC9M1_jywT1cypEN_JRE0VLYRs1ggZEoesH7mV99V6kAKxn_sJmJBnFqmmQogDNzK498hlW6c/s400/Covered+Bridges+20110604+019.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Interesting bird houses we saw for Purple Martins in the Amish Country.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstg7t_n4kHRzR3VyLAmBLA79yJ0LQz458xPnEocMkCdBXzUbvh4aNzFMwvUn3NMLsYb0tbuNJlP9GrZhVPwF5QRiN3dJtmQQ8cZUnuxOPlxV4D49Hb3gvn1C21b54C_c8Rmz2kNt0vKA/s1600/Amish+Country+20110611+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617532182463806546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstg7t_n4kHRzR3VyLAmBLA79yJ0LQz458xPnEocMkCdBXzUbvh4aNzFMwvUn3NMLsYb0tbuNJlP9GrZhVPwF5QRiN3dJtmQQ8cZUnuxOPlxV4D49Hb3gvn1C21b54C_c8Rmz2kNt0vKA/s400/Amish+Country+20110611+023.JPG" /></a><br />The Langley Covered Bridge is the longest one in the United States.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQnkzrvAAmIxBFr4wsy63JVVteD_cBQ0dI5cVNgBjIE3OEr1G1s9Xh9zyk1w4Aiossy5HLjfJx5vSH8en2hh-bPe8AlrDP2ZrZSmIDiYCLDixW1M2VVVs6nN8Aj9_H4_PeFP1DWtZwgI/s1600/Amish+Country+20110611+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617531957841163762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQnkzrvAAmIxBFr4wsy63JVVteD_cBQ0dI5cVNgBjIE3OEr1G1s9Xh9zyk1w4Aiossy5HLjfJx5vSH8en2hh-bPe8AlrDP2ZrZSmIDiYCLDixW1M2VVVs6nN8Aj9_H4_PeFP1DWtZwgI/s400/Amish+Country+20110611+007.JPG" /></a><br /><br />An Amish buggy all ready to do errands for the day.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzK8TYrz31fRbrTUxmIv4VptFmR5HA1Veo1NbMxZTjFVr5L4hEQfEC-o_i0zNT3zJUngCh2O4gPiQ2IXpazuqJqGygiQIWArr8vnzfMAM98lwd0DuQB9sr5mHRt8Hi8Cubr_DkPAGiPA/s1600/Amish+Country+20110611+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617531793090652210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzK8TYrz31fRbrTUxmIv4VptFmR5HA1Veo1NbMxZTjFVr5L4hEQfEC-o_i0zNT3zJUngCh2O4gPiQ2IXpazuqJqGygiQIWArr8vnzfMAM98lwd0DuQB9sr5mHRt8Hi8Cubr_DkPAGiPA/s400/Amish+Country+20110611+001.JPG" /></a> An Amish buggy towing a boat.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaolo3-5i4tc_VCr1Jgr9fzByC3XQjBqjBl31pmeuOmuYojV4IBKRjfNPUgh8WHTkjEN_v4vCzpmYPCNHzOXiSkpYCK91RDNrTXXzO58MaMdfPjgLpfLpYXHIQxx8KlCwyuG35eNaLLd0/s1600/Amish+Country+20110611+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617531660837096194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaolo3-5i4tc_VCr1Jgr9fzByC3XQjBqjBl31pmeuOmuYojV4IBKRjfNPUgh8WHTkjEN_v4vCzpmYPCNHzOXiSkpYCK91RDNrTXXzO58MaMdfPjgLpfLpYXHIQxx8KlCwyuG35eNaLLd0/s400/Amish+Country+20110611+005.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdwLl5IAYAGWVVJaSIBZXP4SfpzwJbN8Lv6lHFbrNsdpCb_37LvhZpApPGIUySEsdoQ_dYhAx2DKz35a-FCFtRhSrQBoGZYz8zhVkWD_xr9nvrcIX3nyfxQz6gBfsyWEVbU5qRA8jEIM/s1600/Covered+Bridges+20110604+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617530620702059874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdwLl5IAYAGWVVJaSIBZXP4SfpzwJbN8Lv6lHFbrNsdpCb_37LvhZpApPGIUySEsdoQ_dYhAx2DKz35a-FCFtRhSrQBoGZYz8zhVkWD_xr9nvrcIX3nyfxQz6gBfsyWEVbU5qRA8jEIM/s400/Covered+Bridges+20110604+009.JPG" /></a> The trees are no longer bare and wild flowers are in full bloom.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hU78avzGyp9wS43GIqQ28nxvMNBRs2aw4m2F_asPQI5YoVJJgpn1YMlS0a1noPreBAc0fkElF1eiPym_7A7VTUn0NJ0An6309eR3m4204xvewqApsip7zEiph_dEnQDy9MQ9YCh1uJA/s1600/LC+20110602+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617529971682602674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hU78avzGyp9wS43GIqQ28nxvMNBRs2aw4m2F_asPQI5YoVJJgpn1YMlS0a1noPreBAc0fkElF1eiPym_7A7VTUn0NJ0An6309eR3m4204xvewqApsip7zEiph_dEnQDy9MQ9YCh1uJA/s400/LC+20110602+016.JPG" /></a> One of the many gorgeous flowers we see as we walk through campus in the morning.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSVEkivKALGPKFLMvFh8tmg7r7gm5y0F6XMTEtZFzPcGRJfue-fGoFaJo8VUiZf4BFvZxyRyIy1ex3AMEP3Mbfo_eWTuXK7nxCLTT198SocYLcRWh0oNypkKueMfiNlxwDhCNGF9Cr8E/s1600/Tree+Peony.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617529566252814210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSVEkivKALGPKFLMvFh8tmg7r7gm5y0F6XMTEtZFzPcGRJfue-fGoFaJo8VUiZf4BFvZxyRyIy1ex3AMEP3Mbfo_eWTuXK7nxCLTT198SocYLcRWh0oNypkKueMfiNlxwDhCNGF9Cr8E/s400/Tree+Peony.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-26422818686519197952011-05-30T12:34:00.000-07:002011-05-30T13:27:38.291-07:00We Got Visitors!!!!!What a treat it was to have David and Grace visit us for a few days. David has just finished his third year of medical school and Grace has just finished up her classes at the Fashion Institute of New York. It felt like we were having Christmas early as it was so wonderful to spend time with family.<br />We had our first Senior Missionary Outing when they were here to the GM Assembly Plant in Lansing. The plant is highly automated with some excellent robotics and is supposed to be the most high tech automobile plant around. It is not open to the general public so it was a real treat to tour it. David and Grace loved hanging out with all of us and we all had a great lunch at the home of President and Sister Jones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ8yUp_NxPD5o9ci9iwSXkFiTI9Y2FZ3qoO6ey7mGFN1fhX2uaVa2d26H2EN9o_fwENSBbtHK5bFUo6CePdAyGSvSE6SRAcNvh2mwgmChCSvxiBQBPThvP8G1Rj7Og2bnnnKRHSPPxwk/s1600/20110524+David+and+Grace+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612606071489461106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ8yUp_NxPD5o9ci9iwSXkFiTI9Y2FZ3qoO6ey7mGFN1fhX2uaVa2d26H2EN9o_fwENSBbtHK5bFUo6CePdAyGSvSE6SRAcNvh2mwgmChCSvxiBQBPThvP8G1Rj7Og2bnnnKRHSPPxwk/s400/20110524+David+and+Grace+006.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGkjbN_uWey_lAGFFRShMrhOngykqPzdrHunyYAYQ5F4ENfoFI-M5X2ADJ1BBkqEukV4dpTDrqm0omNtpVRbBTpvxriPH7g-9WUQ3RoEQlJ5k7yKXbjMu-gQLYZnyNXv5FQ6B6Y_ApKU/s1600/20110524+David+and+Grace+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612605849345946050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGkjbN_uWey_lAGFFRShMrhOngykqPzdrHunyYAYQ5F4ENfoFI-M5X2ADJ1BBkqEukV4dpTDrqm0omNtpVRbBTpvxriPH7g-9WUQ3RoEQlJ5k7yKXbjMu-gQLYZnyNXv5FQ6B6Y_ApKU/s400/20110524+David+and+Grace+005.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGvsOjM-Dp9BQN3WIjoDKShLQouQXj8067MVRTShU7joDpV-xUulDh1YCXoaz2U-DWW4YY2thdeJ_ewo62ZipvYWMxZIJWnT6UabR6btSXyNklmoDhloXg3HDmVtCYz_2b7-0iik-IJI/s1600/Holland+Lighthouse+5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612605613166235138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGvsOjM-Dp9BQN3WIjoDKShLQouQXj8067MVRTShU7joDpV-xUulDh1YCXoaz2U-DWW4YY2thdeJ_ewo62ZipvYWMxZIJWnT6UabR6btSXyNklmoDhloXg3HDmVtCYz_2b7-0iik-IJI/s400/Holland+Lighthouse+5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>In between teaching our classes and the really terrible weather, we still were able to show David and Grace some fun places in Michigan.<br />The tulips in Holland were basically gone, but we were able to show them the massiveness of Lake Michigan, the beautiful beaches there, and the bright red Holland South Pier Lighthouse. I’ll admit it, that we did a little shopping in downtown Holland too. It is a beautiful little Michigan town with a serious Dutch heritage<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KSLtVpYX1_kabNcrIrY6Jw3vO6tLsoFo3AlO17_Wt44T15HYOQ1D2yqWu5hamhqnKGHrDLMz0tqklJggZuP_O8z_PhQ5lCoFF42DTNtLZ9olmHDJ0DsmMnocGEeyBJ96-MkLQ5q-NX0/s1600/20110524+David+and+Grace+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612604331504295730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KSLtVpYX1_kabNcrIrY6Jw3vO6tLsoFo3AlO17_Wt44T15HYOQ1D2yqWu5hamhqnKGHrDLMz0tqklJggZuP_O8z_PhQ5lCoFF42DTNtLZ9olmHDJ0DsmMnocGEeyBJ96-MkLQ5q-NX0/s400/20110524+David+and+Grace+015.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ05sSOGrlFm_nc9FOopKDmiRcokCKtV2hjtqmzox8AovNXBnrYPO94hZyEaL5SXNofG0eafPczicXm3DZxGvRE5CLIJCtU8_lDuGuDRPGnLY_3tA-qRkZXBOq3B_k8p69iFBOs9HlGN4/s1600/20110524+David+and+Grace+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612604160905992402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ05sSOGrlFm_nc9FOopKDmiRcokCKtV2hjtqmzox8AovNXBnrYPO94hZyEaL5SXNofG0eafPczicXm3DZxGvRE5CLIJCtU8_lDuGuDRPGnLY_3tA-qRkZXBOq3B_k8p69iFBOs9HlGN4/s400/20110524+David+and+Grace+023.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We had short visit to an artsy tourist town on Lake Michigan, called Saugatuck—lots of Native American names around here<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ok3C9I9HuNbejRY3U4oq5b6EmSYO8cTYGzWeIu6RWmSdrbpaZC9u1vlvUjVkugO2f_P0ZH0U4zkmNiX-o7EGgg5JcJO5okqUHdBxexHpwDqkjNi8mVHV4z2L6dRksongh8I5zbkBKCw/s1600/20110524+David+and+Grace+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612603685485807810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ok3C9I9HuNbejRY3U4oq5b6EmSYO8cTYGzWeIu6RWmSdrbpaZC9u1vlvUjVkugO2f_P0ZH0U4zkmNiX-o7EGgg5JcJO5okqUHdBxexHpwDqkjNi8mVHV4z2L6dRksongh8I5zbkBKCw/s400/20110524+David+and+Grace+032.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Today is Memorial Day and we are so grateful for all those who serve now, have served, and especially those who have given their lives for this great nation. Most of the students and young people here have all headed for the beaches or lakes. For those that are still around, we have invited to a BBQ here at the institute. It is supposed to be 90 degrees today with humidity.<br />Spring, I think, is here or has come and gone. I am never quite sure as this past week, it has been very rainy and cold and yesterday, we even had a tornado warning and went to a safe area to wait out the storm.<br />The campus here, however is beyond gorgeous and we are told that it has been declared a National Arboretum. Craig and I try to walk everyday and we have really enjoyed seeing all the ducklings and goslings along the river as well as the beautiful gardens. One of our favorites is behind the Radiology Building.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV45FhJrEzdjcc05Xj22L9Ojq2TcRx8IJ8NxgCbZW0ip3gn8Az1VHhc4eMHxRcFWcE_wna7reYZLVsC2LkBbJHfuJm1u-lw-LVeRUVv1d4UIvXjiuPZWmHYVf8ly5j6-sWXr-EpMc2eyE/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+094.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612602734750880306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV45FhJrEzdjcc05Xj22L9Ojq2TcRx8IJ8NxgCbZW0ip3gn8Az1VHhc4eMHxRcFWcE_wna7reYZLVsC2LkBbJHfuJm1u-lw-LVeRUVv1d4UIvXjiuPZWmHYVf8ly5j6-sWXr-EpMc2eyE/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+094.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSxa0BLu7oCwXiA74rZlNoKIZSmATE6ziYJMqvtrCflJKYz23bm-KIAu5FrFCdZZKIL9x8488DmoNfSJNG6KGWiNImxZkBv6OJtudNYW6KApHqctSLhldph5Zcr8IA6SMiPEE9OyPPFo/s1600/MSU+Campus+20110519+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612601983695947602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSxa0BLu7oCwXiA74rZlNoKIZSmATE6ziYJMqvtrCflJKYz23bm-KIAu5FrFCdZZKIL9x8488DmoNfSJNG6KGWiNImxZkBv6OJtudNYW6KApHqctSLhldph5Zcr8IA6SMiPEE9OyPPFo/s400/MSU+Campus+20110519+007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio64q4Enrno9baNq3yjaUL4J4eX1D9l6QE_TFWZzHOsmGKCHmia5d0bcico8hL_ZKUPKhkYm3NSwH4GAbG2XgMqjR8C_HrxyxdzYbpp54w7-pYEkx4BZn2-Nv7BAyE-eL9cs4bECA8f8w/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+086.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612601728862281714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio64q4Enrno9baNq3yjaUL4J4eX1D9l6QE_TFWZzHOsmGKCHmia5d0bcico8hL_ZKUPKhkYm3NSwH4GAbG2XgMqjR8C_HrxyxdzYbpp54w7-pYEkx4BZn2-Nv7BAyE-eL9cs4bECA8f8w/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+086.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmLk5QInXNzjpz6gDVBUQfdY6Lc4QO3_2rfaH-sgSQYOgMLH_iP-AUikd7h7fUvQZzNg66yOtrLqhxkxJfDf8SzK6imv_8HbnVKoSbq5t8t3zFetyaueJ8mlH9zTR3TuIhAKebvc_t38/s1600/20110524+David+and+Grace+068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612601038552424402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmLk5QInXNzjpz6gDVBUQfdY6Lc4QO3_2rfaH-sgSQYOgMLH_iP-AUikd7h7fUvQZzNg66yOtrLqhxkxJfDf8SzK6imv_8HbnVKoSbq5t8t3zFetyaueJ8mlH9zTR3TuIhAKebvc_t38/s400/20110524+David+and+Grace+068.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I love looking at the contrast between the tree outside our apartment window a couple of weeks ago and what it looks like now. I found out it is a dogwood tree and it so reminds me of the tree in our yard in Seattle when I was very young.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGhPvCtwKMD76Zgdn9Ny4_7bXtdJErSfs9qx1xXx0HfTzOBfxAoOqEv-_M-d5jbrbzU64AbHRFDgh99HcfW1jsX7YyLTbBJOSpO53xLaBmiiakc72xpIxDuWKQHOqaHwC6iOH-pbygAY/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+114.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612599623873070690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGhPvCtwKMD76Zgdn9Ny4_7bXtdJErSfs9qx1xXx0HfTzOBfxAoOqEv-_M-d5jbrbzU64AbHRFDgh99HcfW1jsX7YyLTbBJOSpO53xLaBmiiakc72xpIxDuWKQHOqaHwC6iOH-pbygAY/s320/Michigan+Birds+20110520+114.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCe91WTS7f9Lq9RJojY4tNL17My9vs9v-pNXvtxpWQMkwxFag5If3rjM3eWhnIPU2Seia8VKaLlOz0vhM3sVWcews7z-CnJGCSB_lFL0oI_OfqV0OYC9OwrazkcGqqIwtF1Oe3bYwNVQ/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612598436690022130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCe91WTS7f9Lq9RJojY4tNL17My9vs9v-pNXvtxpWQMkwxFag5If3rjM3eWhnIPU2Seia8VKaLlOz0vhM3sVWcews7z-CnJGCSB_lFL0oI_OfqV0OYC9OwrazkcGqqIwtF1Oe3bYwNVQ/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-53245928943069231952011-05-22T16:17:00.000-07:002011-05-23T08:59:46.998-07:00We works hard and we plays hard....<div><div>Well, we work hard and we play hard! Having had a very busy Spring semester with classes and activities, we had a little break before Summer semester begins at the institute…no classes to teach, most of the students away for the break, and no missionary district meeting. </div><div><br />SO…you KNOW that we are very experienced at packing a lot of tourism into a short period of time… </div><div><br />Actually, we spent a Saturday in Holland MI for the annual Tulip Festival. The following Monday we had to go to Ohio for a routine Kaiser visit (there is no Kaiser Permanente in Michigan and every visit is a 460 mile round trip!) SO we added a couple days to visit Kirtland, Ohio, which is just another 40 miles beyond where we had to go anyway. </div><div><br />Kirtland is the site of an extraordinary and formative time in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we’ve long looked forward to being able to spend a little time there learning more and absorbing the wonderful knowledge that some incredibly important events occurred there. </div><div><br />So with that introduction, here’s the update…</div><div><br />Today (5/22) it’s a humid 88 degrees! Seems like we had a few spotty days of spring and launched right in to summer. Everything is green, flowering, and beautiful.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGumFFb8KmLwAhhPyUaUo9wE8a4zeubGGk6DkqCwflICrdSUAfq5LhAZvbF6yd-8tRqsnYdIubS8ivi4vwtlq_nN7fAJ40VJsmiqxjuo5mLPcA1DpNHdBdpXuzuFp5hnyqitJolcMinEF5/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+114.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609696445568294786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGumFFb8KmLwAhhPyUaUo9wE8a4zeubGGk6DkqCwflICrdSUAfq5LhAZvbF6yd-8tRqsnYdIubS8ivi4vwtlq_nN7fAJ40VJsmiqxjuo5mLPcA1DpNHdBdpXuzuFp5hnyqitJolcMinEF5/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+114.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Our feathered and furry friends are busy behind our apartment…<br /><br />Mr. Squirrel says “Am I feeling lucky today?”<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ4gwjc1MrbWwkguFNo585r0zruSCqJ8J-3Ux5J3RJzofkQGaT_6rKyWJt45QFBz_lk-pLo11fWo5lVEftNjG-0V3dfyL3M5groX8WDr1qNQMC6A3DR2Z5rt5Lku9xshAvEN0cRdnNTqu/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609695884717209730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ4gwjc1MrbWwkguFNo585r0zruSCqJ8J-3Ux5J3RJzofkQGaT_6rKyWJt45QFBz_lk-pLo11fWo5lVEftNjG-0V3dfyL3M5groX8WDr1qNQMC6A3DR2Z5rt5Lku9xshAvEN0cRdnNTqu/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+066.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Whoops…maybe not so much….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEniQzXdRFq4ShEgLMHy1RaoCPp3p4sDeMgEyIq4DcpEG0D9JB7_Ev_QSNWN-TnNH6dgdRpfhe0vMYXfiiyzWgviibkL4iof2JOuECITwB9ztE9WqqgBFzpPi14gzrwiBWDzpS5siyhNg/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609695470136075426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEniQzXdRFq4ShEgLMHy1RaoCPp3p4sDeMgEyIq4DcpEG0D9JB7_Ev_QSNWN-TnNH6dgdRpfhe0vMYXfiiyzWgviibkL4iof2JOuECITwB9ztE9WqqgBFzpPi14gzrwiBWDzpS5siyhNg/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+004.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtfKR6QKpaWIMPBl8ibOGEgB_Ag6Y6Gf8y4pOid48rVKSoOSJMNkmTNHGGPO2FzyOB8eXm_cfXe89KXZ3ygUNv2ZPSY6O9Ucqc75O9qOCtXEDqaK_jrHTaW8KvxbMW5SFNelETXd0ZpQR/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609695199090508322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtfKR6QKpaWIMPBl8ibOGEgB_Ag6Y6Gf8y4pOid48rVKSoOSJMNkmTNHGGPO2FzyOB8eXm_cfXe89KXZ3ygUNv2ZPSY6O9Ucqc75O9qOCtXEDqaK_jrHTaW8KvxbMW5SFNelETXd0ZpQR/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+048.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaEytd7iQycYjO2npEVFObRypQBPYP6weGN0Hv4ZJIPxVT8SWhlWpCTMXt8uttSR72g4xEaz1YvRVb2F2_HFZE-zBO7AM7VN-n1TMXGu5n27StjWnZ-JMOq8ZclHytXl6W5bRTEaOIgEX/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609694952061406562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaEytd7iQycYjO2npEVFObRypQBPYP6weGN0Hv4ZJIPxVT8SWhlWpCTMXt8uttSR72g4xEaz1YvRVb2F2_HFZE-zBO7AM7VN-n1TMXGu5n27StjWnZ-JMOq8ZclHytXl6W5bRTEaOIgEX/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+024.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQDqOl_-GtyjsZh1zKz71dhZtUOT6nHmbO7qGzNcbcclNGJjUSlM437luXNh1DB-o4w992qecMtFyp8dIGXZ8wg8AxuMieNRSmQ9zDZw1KSxOoSHRO1DsGLseXo7XD_YtvvVOC61aFQt_/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609694705085211970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQDqOl_-GtyjsZh1zKz71dhZtUOT6nHmbO7qGzNcbcclNGJjUSlM437luXNh1DB-o4w992qecMtFyp8dIGXZ8wg8AxuMieNRSmQ9zDZw1KSxOoSHRO1DsGLseXo7XD_YtvvVOC61aFQt_/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+017.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX1c_ihgvytQx1vDnJI_ZTSeTdRrDwevx4lcc82MvUKAFugHdaeuRTANULR2HD98HNc4tlyqIbQS0HL5KXNVscahjDXswHZpVX8B2jJrc-_qPh8o6zelsBfwaR1bRn7S1r_IAf8a-GiPb/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609694412238119730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX1c_ihgvytQx1vDnJI_ZTSeTdRrDwevx4lcc82MvUKAFugHdaeuRTANULR2HD98HNc4tlyqIbQS0HL5KXNVscahjDXswHZpVX8B2jJrc-_qPh8o6zelsBfwaR1bRn7S1r_IAf8a-GiPb/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />The fields are being prepared for planting…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_531hJnA1Cu7vP_gKUtu9oBNBuHre-4z1wigwqTJyr-PrYLn7V7XnXCKSbp4v0FOwq2GNy54050Kpz8Fi2zr7MKKhSuHM7-M3abFiUtiyU0Ckk3wD5OpNHhytwk8vSU8ep-ZZjfeFZHSC/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609693475313422338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_531hJnA1Cu7vP_gKUtu9oBNBuHre-4z1wigwqTJyr-PrYLn7V7XnXCKSbp4v0FOwq2GNy54050Kpz8Fi2zr7MKKhSuHM7-M3abFiUtiyU0Ckk3wD5OpNHhytwk8vSU8ep-ZZjfeFZHSC/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+126.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />On the MSU Campus, love is blossoming….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1Pl6bEdRhS6slc-FGutKQL8hkF7_cA_emN0wf3ZagisLWObhUa325bovGSmhj7MsxOZnejbitMy-UTbukxugexVOOJ2RMTwXOXJNp5YeC2OG7w0yZTu2T38Ampjl-m-g648zQBzWZ04e/s1600/Campus+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609693076728995842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1Pl6bEdRhS6slc-FGutKQL8hkF7_cA_emN0wf3ZagisLWObhUa325bovGSmhj7MsxOZnejbitMy-UTbukxugexVOOJ2RMTwXOXJNp5YeC2OG7w0yZTu2T38Ampjl-m-g648zQBzWZ04e/s400/Campus+4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />As are the flowers and trees….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBXpSTIy2Pc4LOXT94sgiQZHON_ajpjSrITVEb8nHJY36Jf6KwLUXinekSvuYQpopxa4qkJqEuljDLdaW95apsjqm99J61v5yg3RGUGO8RQFVgMaQQqPQgEAppCeA2qn6cl_xkQiqIOYH/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609692643625243714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBXpSTIy2Pc4LOXT94sgiQZHON_ajpjSrITVEb8nHJY36Jf6KwLUXinekSvuYQpopxa4qkJqEuljDLdaW95apsjqm99J61v5yg3RGUGO8RQFVgMaQQqPQgEAppCeA2qn6cl_xkQiqIOYH/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+102.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_d5R8OQ7vAqHh0hjEz9UNkuQGRDDB59ZgtvCC-8eQVKutOEqayzsxhVc5fnBwGZ9ERLqE86-C9H03GW6d547dpF2EkJ2i7MjBJP_KOgf2X6T_2JmD4NFvYTjOV_KSOcVMHuKX0b2hmB6/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609692369409439634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_d5R8OQ7vAqHh0hjEz9UNkuQGRDDB59ZgtvCC-8eQVKutOEqayzsxhVc5fnBwGZ9ERLqE86-C9H03GW6d547dpF2EkJ2i7MjBJP_KOgf2X6T_2JmD4NFvYTjOV_KSOcVMHuKX0b2hmB6/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+091.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFdqsXAZvvznBJnfKi5YAEoeVMimg5xqG00XMrgcEkwFFw_bCgkcxYfTmtR2EkJCKZJRsAzWONYxuPAcnOqKQHVLFYelOx589CB-lGmuklADRZBnVEhTn7ouOHnGUX62rqMbF9kGZHYvZ/s1600/Michigan+Birds+20110520+081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609692132962166274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFdqsXAZvvznBJnfKi5YAEoeVMimg5xqG00XMrgcEkwFFw_bCgkcxYfTmtR2EkJCKZJRsAzWONYxuPAcnOqKQHVLFYelOx589CB-lGmuklADRZBnVEhTn7ouOHnGUX62rqMbF9kGZHYvZ/s400/Michigan+Birds+20110520+081.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />And the Red Cedar River has finally stopped rising and is becoming peaceful, although still overflowing its banks….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLa0vk1fJfCgCaf-EKOh0_5TQCdlU2DVV6yCw7pJbttlAJtI5QT6SWFEW0BrjvqIbxHvxejRVJSaR1j9v_5eb9XPS7FLuRjYRZ3QtBkA4P01anSblqNP3NIRq6grDl0swIg_mzlxgtFAX/s1600/MSU+Campus+20110519+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609691197863527186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLa0vk1fJfCgCaf-EKOh0_5TQCdlU2DVV6yCw7pJbttlAJtI5QT6SWFEW0BrjvqIbxHvxejRVJSaR1j9v_5eb9XPS7FLuRjYRZ3QtBkA4P01anSblqNP3NIRq6grDl0swIg_mzlxgtFAX/s400/MSU+Campus+20110519+004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />In Kirtland, Ohio, we visited with our Half Moon Bay friends Dean and Marjorie Cook. Elder and Sister Cook are spending their summer as service missionaries helping to maintain the church historic sites in the Kirtland area. It was great to spend time with them as we visited the sites.<br /><br />In front of the main visitor’s center…yep, it’s us!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIy-6BBsadmrzY0wrsvQTX58183HxYKGls85mL5S_0v5W-eTAgj9nfqSLIL76r_r-IyXQ-a7lwaAVCt-7wr3-CFfArdzF6U0Q7t89_nyAoAeXfGMf3jgFLq85es_Of0xL0hjzK_AnGPE0/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609690458293763346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIy-6BBsadmrzY0wrsvQTX58183HxYKGls85mL5S_0v5W-eTAgj9nfqSLIL76r_r-IyXQ-a7lwaAVCt-7wr3-CFfArdzF6U0Q7t89_nyAoAeXfGMf3jgFLq85es_Of0xL0hjzK_AnGPE0/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />And here with the Cooks at the John Johnson Farm, where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife Emma stayed for a time…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8awbEiyrpvRF-2fE8QZiEqk7Zs0OJrrNCR8YaLedBy2EKLZrjNuJQZN2id2itQ7QY6DFduN8g_FtlvLzUKxWm1jSNAOQMTjljIA-txAYwjP3905B1L3-wed-0ZARaEs_kbEul83j13riy/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609690049678796946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8awbEiyrpvRF-2fE8QZiEqk7Zs0OJrrNCR8YaLedBy2EKLZrjNuJQZN2id2itQ7QY6DFduN8g_FtlvLzUKxWm1jSNAOQMTjljIA-txAYwjP3905B1L3-wed-0ZARaEs_kbEul83j13riy/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Kirtland Temple....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlog_et6U7pq64Tqfzo5RjMLavKTkdm3xXTyOiZGn09QsbctQNtBYZpgM7NcbkIRWsm1DniCuJwjaWwP6xoDCNHK3VBqokquApLZmpto9t5vM3S3gQOXeRD8X4-AKP1j8HPWd-mbgAKXR/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609689561687221954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlog_et6U7pq64Tqfzo5RjMLavKTkdm3xXTyOiZGn09QsbctQNtBYZpgM7NcbkIRWsm1DniCuJwjaWwP6xoDCNHK3VBqokquApLZmpto9t5vM3S3gQOXeRD8X4-AKP1j8HPWd-mbgAKXR/s400/DSC_0118.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />School of the Prophets in the Newell K. Whitney store….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE0iC3Jd9qRSjUHJByXL6Kxz5zvr14029_yqI1ltxk3akXr48Kwwkckz866IxhogWZeKQOXI3wGTTTEmIIQl9AB2b_1h8S5Lg4vMFui_JRNDjX_3uqwDI82ENmzMzWQmcig_nUelYEZfs/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609689131360607394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE0iC3Jd9qRSjUHJByXL6Kxz5zvr14029_yqI1ltxk3akXr48Kwwkckz866IxhogWZeKQOXI3wGTTTEmIIQl9AB2b_1h8S5Lg4vMFui_JRNDjX_3uqwDI82ENmzMzWQmcig_nUelYEZfs/s400/DSC_0072.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />And a bonus lighthouse on our way home. This is the Marblehead Light on the southwestern shore of Lake Erie….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExQ9pBgqkhmASTJ3URjlOH04GgfRSb3yr1Bc4AsoHZ_hCiLRFgEj_G6L0pSgYFtOUYb2fn2yotYKq7g5hRpSWgkRIyuGgho2xVoSyWof-nu9wxquyiDdVQiq1T718P8glPMjGOHR0BORf/s1600/DSC_0136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 268px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609688350553377346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExQ9pBgqkhmASTJ3URjlOH04GgfRSb3yr1Bc4AsoHZ_hCiLRFgEj_G6L0pSgYFtOUYb2fn2yotYKq7g5hRpSWgkRIyuGgho2xVoSyWof-nu9wxquyiDdVQiq1T718P8glPMjGOHR0BORf/s400/DSC_0136.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Holland Tulip Festival. They plant 120,000 new tulip bulbs each year for this. It is fantastic! Holland is a very nice town on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan that was founded by Dutch settlers…as you can see, their legacy has become a very big annual festival!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHrdO_cv4LBjAOfTHur1cXcsLK8iTwjInVezQUbJXbrvyVmS-rzFjmTePWCaS2OxgY5bTJdwqdRjE9b7eLzEBoHa1ryj6qM28645Yn68JTLejA2DsmSEjuIiUt0A3EyEnHR1PbjQVELrU/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609687744813984642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHrdO_cv4LBjAOfTHur1cXcsLK8iTwjInVezQUbJXbrvyVmS-rzFjmTePWCaS2OxgY5bTJdwqdRjE9b7eLzEBoHa1ryj6qM28645Yn68JTLejA2DsmSEjuIiUt0A3EyEnHR1PbjQVELrU/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+037.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsrYIqjPhHIe5W_bxy_zG-2ZQwiugNp4Ckv31zmexSgyEq3UXuTymdHcKhRFMrmLrvrt2hGYJ_bsh9ZjfqrUcgtrN3PcBKda2v4rJKNvdYKNMXFo81-laQy3qCDQESLnr2H1bpp5adYJ7/s1600/Holland+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609686886531245650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsrYIqjPhHIe5W_bxy_zG-2ZQwiugNp4Ckv31zmexSgyEq3UXuTymdHcKhRFMrmLrvrt2hGYJ_bsh9ZjfqrUcgtrN3PcBKda2v4rJKNvdYKNMXFo81-laQy3qCDQESLnr2H1bpp5adYJ7/s400/Holland+1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUJMgoMePH6HXKPMHbePahx6BNkmpHHroHEvE8T2saMDpoycJ71-sq8Utm5V94T3LnGb3sYfRTR4OstDrwE490fU3Uy_I_3UlOds8G1M5MO2Ny-whxMqzriSAbbh0F9sdQmdEIq5Zb4Hk/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609686278075447938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUJMgoMePH6HXKPMHbePahx6BNkmpHHroHEvE8T2saMDpoycJ71-sq8Utm5V94T3LnGb3sYfRTR4OstDrwE490fU3Uy_I_3UlOds8G1M5MO2Ny-whxMqzriSAbbh0F9sdQmdEIq5Zb4Hk/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+086.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajhY9t2LMswCM-D3itgK7Bh2YS-ZKAzUE-ErnPE9Jon49qrU6atZLooZaf3OfCYm3Ra02PE9JhUPeKzLJHVWu0UaBbI2AZwM-XakrtMogVUc2gG6TK9X-qfKrJPL9MZxvvwam6PKhUhKX/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609686020245152274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajhY9t2LMswCM-D3itgK7Bh2YS-ZKAzUE-ErnPE9Jon49qrU6atZLooZaf3OfCYm3Ra02PE9JhUPeKzLJHVWu0UaBbI2AZwM-XakrtMogVUc2gG6TK9X-qfKrJPL9MZxvvwam6PKhUhKX/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+131.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76nCnlgPd9Qbge7e1YBnC8uwp-By5eLnYnFrOr-64CYV0EwS8r-dTpsIQB3wnc5SIBj-ETVoBTf-dqbP_eUJYNyScSDXiV0yuOT0lO70ct-D1SxIGCcxj_Rh04TEdk4Dv3KkiVXcrXI6a/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609685872815348306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76nCnlgPd9Qbge7e1YBnC8uwp-By5eLnYnFrOr-64CYV0EwS8r-dTpsIQB3wnc5SIBj-ETVoBTf-dqbP_eUJYNyScSDXiV0yuOT0lO70ct-D1SxIGCcxj_Rh04TEdk4Dv3KkiVXcrXI6a/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+054.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20LHwcWh8kFuOEZoPxtZBPXYEu1HSzWTK40tJQDRqO8JHG-7Gdc9rtlSL16p5LK1AtkHNNLt5xqt5ojiJxpY29WGTioQcTtUVURUtbNTBs9gQnr7sXsK4o2FS5aoFKGSDoSJ1g6pC5Prl/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609685290433447138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20LHwcWh8kFuOEZoPxtZBPXYEu1HSzWTK40tJQDRqO8JHG-7Gdc9rtlSL16p5LK1AtkHNNLt5xqt5ojiJxpY29WGTioQcTtUVURUtbNTBs9gQnr7sXsK4o2FS5aoFKGSDoSJ1g6pC5Prl/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+050.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVl2wJnzlYp8KAB2z4KQStMolqJUuyeFLVhjr5pNqOy5MyhfCm2I9WuDf68O4tu2XW_rOSMQjgrqsWE-VthdOPDW2zKzS2B8p5GFLMZyuYTw-H_McveSqYmQCxpINsEbiiDrn7h3-zRNY/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609684628843067762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVl2wJnzlYp8KAB2z4KQStMolqJUuyeFLVhjr5pNqOy5MyhfCm2I9WuDf68O4tu2XW_rOSMQjgrqsWE-VthdOPDW2zKzS2B8p5GFLMZyuYTw-H_McveSqYmQCxpINsEbiiDrn7h3-zRNY/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+047.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pCfAtH9zTNNDxv5hJ_M5oFHFqY5rS90uLdTmFMItNh8ZtST7AF60bpt7RH0zOB-h7PbQrSl4BsyzlYl6rYCelHi5BgUve8C69Wf-k_x2WsgIgwGcrUS-WvDHbM4pIkTTjW1yl8wKQmrf/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609684450975348290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pCfAtH9zTNNDxv5hJ_M5oFHFqY5rS90uLdTmFMItNh8ZtST7AF60bpt7RH0zOB-h7PbQrSl4BsyzlYl6rYCelHi5BgUve8C69Wf-k_x2WsgIgwGcrUS-WvDHbM4pIkTTjW1yl8wKQmrf/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+030.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYByNsVDxtoJUUrlg-bWtL0Rv1UJAljiJWNidimCe7ERxRHCJQvsQWQDPL6jMaecOmPIb6ex1W5MPrzXGneTf3nzOSIGG65lfHA44k-bxFYNXkBFkG5j7LRtGwFw4FJIcc7mREAYXgBZe/s1600/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609684214548127442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYByNsVDxtoJUUrlg-bWtL0Rv1UJAljiJWNidimCe7ERxRHCJQvsQWQDPL6jMaecOmPIb6ex1W5MPrzXGneTf3nzOSIGG65lfHA44k-bxFYNXkBFkG5j7LRtGwFw4FJIcc7mREAYXgBZe/s400/20110507+Holland+Tulip+Festival+022.JPG" /></a></div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-28504416511471649222011-05-01T10:55:00.000-07:002011-05-01T15:46:32.057-07:00It's May!!!I’ve never seen such green, green grass before. It is everywhere and it appeared almost overnight. The daffodil’s are in full bloom and even some of the bushes and trees have blossoms. We’ve heard that spring in Michigan is spectacular and I think it is finally on its way. What a wonderful, but busy, week we have had. Along with finishing our classes for the semester at the institute, we had some very special visitors from home. Marjorie and Dean Cook stopped by on Tuesday on their way to serve their mission in Kirkland, Ohio. They were able to stay for the night; and after dinner out, lots of chatting and laughing, a very WET rainy walk on MSU campus, breakfast here, and they hooked up their rig and were off. We are enjoying our mission, but we definitely are homesick for our family and friends so it was so wonderful to visit with them. We welcome all family and friends!!! Eric called last night to let us know that he had his plane tickets to come visit us over Labor Day. Yea!<br /><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBURwZtfDncBTDUDORQv3ExN6gfT-3Krc7o3LgY79xXq_vKbHaolAoVzMA9ooxFu3c5p-saQwxNqZH3hnV222cMrrxuDTwnwkBjlbQAag7bQtXouAHmoUAFhDSYL4dDJUN0ABNLb9blI/s1600/P1010176.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601870742754219570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBURwZtfDncBTDUDORQv3ExN6gfT-3Krc7o3LgY79xXq_vKbHaolAoVzMA9ooxFu3c5p-saQwxNqZH3hnV222cMrrxuDTwnwkBjlbQAag7bQtXouAHmoUAFhDSYL4dDJUN0ABNLb9blI/s400/P1010176.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo_5UmSj-Vcbr0F2MPDqG6pvRj0LhJ_b6s2fowRExom5umsCvKc9YlAsFmoWkKFnXpFBOXeFo-Syaz9Y9V9yT6rJ17OX2SxcBeZYRv0Z2eHLeYFOKtqiEe7uy73Un5vbNf3ljYBZptYg/s1600/P1010179.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601870426437141762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo_5UmSj-Vcbr0F2MPDqG6pvRj0LhJ_b6s2fowRExom5umsCvKc9YlAsFmoWkKFnXpFBOXeFo-Syaz9Y9V9yT6rJ17OX2SxcBeZYRv0Z2eHLeYFOKtqiEe7uy73Un5vbNf3ljYBZptYg/s400/P1010179.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCvVa70QOfTf51f0JLJ_ygM1ou-G_Uq5zmHJq1hTMPxyIlTbLkBZMXMmelVMck_s635PB8vGo42tX7RRw9SbtHoWmxuCiBXE71uuRtK2FaKoDLvIdesOfRZv4n0qEH3TMSKx7Kg7wlDM/s1600/Dean+and+Marjorie.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601870134315697490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCvVa70QOfTf51f0JLJ_ygM1ou-G_Uq5zmHJq1hTMPxyIlTbLkBZMXMmelVMck_s635PB8vGo42tX7RRw9SbtHoWmxuCiBXE71uuRtK2FaKoDLvIdesOfRZv4n0qEH3TMSKx7Kg7wlDM/s400/Dean+and+Marjorie.JPG" /></a>The University Ward keeps us super busy along with our institute classes. Monday night for family night, we went on a picture taking scavenger hunt for two hours on MSU campus. The kids helped us see things we had never seen before and it was a bit crazy, but fun. (It didn’t hurt that our team won.) The ward also had an “end of the year” BBQ and then Friday night was institute graduation which was wonderful.<br /></p><br /><br /><p>We always try to make the most of our Saturdays. I am fascinated by the whole making of maple syrup so we went to the Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival and it didn’t disappoint. We had a yummy pancake breakfast with real maple syrup. They had maple everything for sale—maple ice cream, maple cotton candy (had to try it), maple candy, maple soda, maple cream, and on and on. Just driving to Vermontville was a treat as the grass and fields are so green and beautiful surrounding quaint farm houses and classic red barns. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97EpRd0bsNCi3BIjlyP-jEYE6ATlGN9IfowCQmnnYfChSv6UiuXAeQK6ApED2d0lor49QknAud-esUHRylDFlUyajpg-qzhDqG3NDj2SQA0BwNsDMR8n95SSasjw6NS2WFk4qzpjL-Wc/s1600/20110430+Vermontville+Maple+Festival+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601874885975773410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97EpRd0bsNCi3BIjlyP-jEYE6ATlGN9IfowCQmnnYfChSv6UiuXAeQK6ApED2d0lor49QknAud-esUHRylDFlUyajpg-qzhDqG3NDj2SQA0BwNsDMR8n95SSasjw6NS2WFk4qzpjL-Wc/s400/20110430+Vermontville+Maple+Festival+016.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Love abounds in the University Ward and there are lots of marriages planned for this summer. I even had the opportunity to go to one of the wedding showers yesterday. Then to complete our Saturday, we attended a musical concert at the Wharton Center at MSU as Peter and Terri Bates had given us their tickets for the concert. The chorus and symphony performed Verdi’s Requiem and the music was beyond amazing. Craig and I really got our classical music fix for awhile.<br /></p><br /><p>We came here to Michigan to serve and teach the young people in this area, but they have taught us so much. We have witnessed so much kindness as we watch how they treat one another—the young lady who walked back several rows to retrieve another young lady who is sitting alone, the young man who walks with the blind deacon as he passes the Sacrament, the many meals they fix for the elders who serve in this ward, the lovely flowers and thoughtful card we were given last week, and I honestly could go on and on. On Easter Sunday, I complimented Jo who is blind on how pretty she looked. She told me that Brittany had taken her shopping the day before. These kids just keep teaching us every day. </p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkisnpXxXcTpNbZEJOUT66e3G14hmzmvDeoiKQTBl9AetjzIiH8gsQnvENzx-EEzTMSuax6y-05UGzN9UBsjRTedbtaW70TUgJuUTYiQQF8GR2lUl9QKhx5aae8lQv9ieT2J6j1cGKTfY/s1600/Institute+20110429+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601871070511516450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkisnpXxXcTpNbZEJOUT66e3G14hmzmvDeoiKQTBl9AetjzIiH8gsQnvENzx-EEzTMSuax6y-05UGzN9UBsjRTedbtaW70TUgJuUTYiQQF8GR2lUl9QKhx5aae8lQv9ieT2J6j1cGKTfY/s400/Institute+20110429+006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-36161603047469101162011-04-23T07:07:00.000-07:002011-04-23T07:13:02.293-07:00"He is risen...."Beautiful day today...I was struck by the profound Easter message from Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here are the closing words of his testimony of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ:<br /><br />“…Of Him who delivered each of us from endless death, I testify He is a teacher of truth—but He is more than a teacher. He is the exemplar of the perfect life—but He is more than an exemplar. He is the great physician—but He is more than a physician. He is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared, “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:4).”<br />“Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!'”Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-64882100904473444002011-04-10T19:44:00.000-07:002011-04-10T19:52:56.637-07:00Spring at Last!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6u6wFoFU-dUuxM5G_qpSsU3QnUabrizsb7rVC86JxF89GT1RMcm-KSj2VNRkD0_C3eBmQM0f1oSedGqLRiTLoxBFXQEF_beQizC67Em5fw9H08_2200J9cV9YK3JGAdL5GLTUP-fWYA/s1600/photo+1+20110410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6u6wFoFU-dUuxM5G_qpSsU3QnUabrizsb7rVC86JxF89GT1RMcm-KSj2VNRkD0_C3eBmQM0f1oSedGqLRiTLoxBFXQEF_beQizC67Em5fw9H08_2200J9cV9YK3JGAdL5GLTUP-fWYA/s400/photo+1+20110410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594152170917580098" /></a><br /><br />Today has been an absolutely glorious day!!!! I know I am totally obsessed with the weather and it has been so dreadful lately and then today it was 86 degrees. We have gone from winter to summer in one day and I even saw beautiful little purple crocuses blooming. The kids all lounged on the grass on blankets all afternoon chatting, resting, and just soaking up every bit of sunshine. We even took turns at the BBQ to cook our dinner---such a great day Sabbath day.<br />Yesterday we had the opportunity of going to the Detroit Temple with the young adults and then breakfast with the group afterwards. Since we were in Detroit, we decided to check out the Ford museum. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEapuINDIxGGhX1ohlCABtiqi_pwIUpQnwhIADSriCzvp23DXvL4PGsjrhNsfLKL_ALz_68evuTYmRaAGQ73ITNurCgzcrPKpNIF7qhFTyjR9mCZweHfhM08yqsLSVcRVAva_bIuBW94/s1600/photo+11+20110410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEapuINDIxGGhX1ohlCABtiqi_pwIUpQnwhIADSriCzvp23DXvL4PGsjrhNsfLKL_ALz_68evuTYmRaAGQ73ITNurCgzcrPKpNIF7qhFTyjR9mCZweHfhM08yqsLSVcRVAva_bIuBW94/s400/photo+11+20110410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594152459034165874" /></a><br /><br /> Craig was able to see the 1967 LeMans winning Ford GT40 Mk VI he had always wanted to see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dTS1o_X6LG18ENwF-8TaK5ZrcA9oc4EBNAZpvdCA1ilR4msJwXMRyQftNL6D3zkCKRZvv_eP4J839yDe8Gl1RVBupaEFVoumizB9S7Tn2FOdYs7cX0lNieae8BO7_uv3E5hbrGIxtyU/s1600/Friday+Forum+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dTS1o_X6LG18ENwF-8TaK5ZrcA9oc4EBNAZpvdCA1ilR4msJwXMRyQftNL6D3zkCKRZvv_eP4J839yDe8Gl1RVBupaEFVoumizB9S7Tn2FOdYs7cX0lNieae8BO7_uv3E5hbrGIxtyU/s400/Friday+Forum+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594152740270269618" /></a><br /><br />One of the many Friday Forum lunches we do.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-66550749197003259622011-04-03T21:03:00.001-07:002011-04-03T21:03:36.714-07:00Super Busy Week!This week has been an especially busy one as Brother Draut has been out of town and Craig has been teaching many of his classes as well as his own. I too, had an additional class to teach this week. I was asked to teach a cooking class on making "no knead" bread for their Thursday night cultural night. The cooking class, though, took hours of preparation, turned out to be so much fun for all of us. We had a great turn out and I think there were as many boys in the class as girls. I felt a little like I was back teaching school and helping my students learn a new task. After lots of laughing and joking around, everyone went home with their bowl of dough to rise overnight. The next day the apartments smelled like a bakery--there is nothing better than smelling bread baking. All went well with the classes, but we were glad to see Friday night come. <br /> After being edified with two full days of General Conference we are ready to start another busy week and that week starts Monday at 6:30 A.M. Craig will be teaching the Power of the Scriptures class to all the early risers and I plan to spoil them with some freshly baked raspberry muffins. <br /> This is a picture of our most recent district, with Elder Riley as the district leader. Every time we have district meetings, we always come away so impressed by the dedication and work ethic of the elders in our area. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj8jckTvu2WkCMqmx5YUrofuMd3BoMR_9ZVv27o43c9xxaHx89nLq7xd-vyY6l4eJgbJeYQqxzvi2GVswpxmis-RhMPnpBYBY5lGeJlNxYqohjJI3IydfTO3wqA_QPsLQCWRZqYDQZhka/s1600/Institute+Dance+Off+110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj8jckTvu2WkCMqmx5YUrofuMd3BoMR_9ZVv27o43c9xxaHx89nLq7xd-vyY6l4eJgbJeYQqxzvi2GVswpxmis-RhMPnpBYBY5lGeJlNxYqohjJI3IydfTO3wqA_QPsLQCWRZqYDQZhka/s400/Institute+Dance+Off+110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591561294425699778" /></a><br /> Last week for Family Night, the YSA Ward had a dance contest. They divided up in groups and then had a few minutes to put together a routine. All the routines were so creative and fun. They never cease to amaze me with the clever ideas they come up with for activities. The lessons they give at Family Night are also so great and one that was given a couple of weeks ago on forgiveness really touched me and I still remember the lesson I personally learned that night. We just can't praise these young adults enough and they really have worked their way into our hearts. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjCX8xQnScN_4RHP1Aevcx8cAinvdKVFsqYxBzWPOVlJDFnYMMzoUDVHqvWcKuUeL74BYY_dezr2IAaJ413GdlXWQeOCDegmLvBpPCRrRz9w-8hioBaNKzDcD_ngCL8FTx2RoHtDbAOKf/s1600/Institute+Dance+Off+044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjCX8xQnScN_4RHP1Aevcx8cAinvdKVFsqYxBzWPOVlJDFnYMMzoUDVHqvWcKuUeL74BYY_dezr2IAaJ413GdlXWQeOCDegmLvBpPCRrRz9w-8hioBaNKzDcD_ngCL8FTx2RoHtDbAOKf/s400/Institute+Dance+Off+044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591555643253739250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl8D2kaeQekBCy99ZnGV1erWn0Xhgrj4Tbb79q1Ko4ocYXGG3ozSfe0s9tlGAAjxr1pDG7cg8T8zw8SOElE1aXH51GD4aBxcbc0f2M63bOImzkFFWbus3figzBbfV3ZA_sfqWxNeRyMCW/s1600/Institute+Dance+Off+035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl8D2kaeQekBCy99ZnGV1erWn0Xhgrj4Tbb79q1Ko4ocYXGG3ozSfe0s9tlGAAjxr1pDG7cg8T8zw8SOElE1aXH51GD4aBxcbc0f2M63bOImzkFFWbus3figzBbfV3ZA_sfqWxNeRyMCW/s400/Institute+Dance+Off+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591554282313082210" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNVp9EPitAePKT_7jsQ5nS6Bhmb0YFtdz3q3Zmy3RmLq3H6B2X_a5axMw73HrtptpWBq7f2QgzwWBWO-MrfLfuFTEg-uRu62o9KGW1NzDemhFhC0XmRcxjvYl5l_4O5Vqja5yJj4v4OBo/s1600/Institute+Dance+Off+017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNVp9EPitAePKT_7jsQ5nS6Bhmb0YFtdz3q3Zmy3RmLq3H6B2X_a5axMw73HrtptpWBq7f2QgzwWBWO-MrfLfuFTEg-uRu62o9KGW1NzDemhFhC0XmRcxjvYl5l_4O5Vqja5yJj4v4OBo/s400/Institute+Dance+Off+017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591551933523629906" /></a><br /><em></em>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11092792171954364058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718756370297978565.post-40673962247880755992011-03-27T12:42:00.001-07:002011-03-27T13:08:22.834-07:00Maple “Surple”, Midland, and the Lighthouse that got away….For the first time in awhile I have some time on a beautiful – although cold – Sunday afternoon, so how about an update on our recent meanderings… We are keeping very busy with our Institute responsibilities, but are having a great time and are finding a lot of satisfaction as we teach and testify about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We continue to become better acquainted with the young folks who attend classes and the ward, as well as those who are looking into joining the Church. I am continually reminded of what a great generation this is as I see them making thoughtful, prayerful decisions about their lives. What an inspiration it is to be around young folks who are so sincere about advancing their lives, both spiritual and temporal. Naturally, there is a full portion of challenges and disappointments, but it is impressive to see them learn important principles as they face adversity as well as success. Our Institute Director was unexpectedly called away for a week last Friday, so we will be extra busy this week with teaching additional classes, etc. Last Saturday we had a couple hours free so went to the Maple Syrup Festival at the local Fenner Nature Park. Got a first hand look had how collecting the sap, boiling it, etc. works. Karen is pretty enthused about making some Maple Syrup on our own, since we have a woods right behind our apartment full of the White Maple trees, but I am reminded that it takes 40 gallons of sap (!) to end up with one gallon of syrup. Makes going to the local grocery store for syrup look pretty easy…. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sb0l8eoD1jyEEZIhHL0ofvbS3iEDXFDYdexOw7pjMjqzHVYFcbKUlrhsB0NhH37w5JgS-cIT5WQ6L61-rq-u4OFCKGmLzCnR19O-QZ3TW15H2R2d4NMLpK4vJN7l4JXBr2TFpeME-RZR/s1600/Maple+Syrup+16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588848838766724866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sb0l8eoD1jyEEZIhHL0ofvbS3iEDXFDYdexOw7pjMjqzHVYFcbKUlrhsB0NhH37w5JgS-cIT5WQ6L61-rq-u4OFCKGmLzCnR19O-QZ3TW15H2R2d4NMLpK4vJN7l4JXBr2TFpeME-RZR/s400/Maple+Syrup+16.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLm3mvU6gItwfBpowgPqR4XW1AOmJlY5-RC_Kt0JRksWHS7ypxLLU7kixL6yYswRv062NtTblfy6l1uqlKuQnJS6tbJ6gsqSDfEVQmKxeQYskv434jxU2h_uKvanjbKPmX0LQUPpiNHNl/s1600/Maple+Syrup+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588848687247197906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLm3mvU6gItwfBpowgPqR4XW1AOmJlY5-RC_Kt0JRksWHS7ypxLLU7kixL6yYswRv062NtTblfy6l1uqlKuQnJS6tbJ6gsqSDfEVQmKxeQYskv434jxU2h_uKvanjbKPmX0LQUPpiNHNl/s400/Maple+Syrup+3.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFtHtwDPwTJzYQGk8odk8lfOai0oFJYjRCJyP92jzUDeK4Vb6TT2TQ-Il4uSx_pshKml3xUGY0Kmza5ZVxepbT-3qPqjG0UJeQfr6vGyr8yVCoxg5vVfzR8Xob5NY87aeTHklJ46JBWm8/s1600/Maple+Syrup+5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588848406617765922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFtHtwDPwTJzYQGk8odk8lfOai0oFJYjRCJyP92jzUDeK4Vb6TT2TQ-Il4uSx_pshKml3xUGY0Kmza5ZVxepbT-3qPqjG0UJeQfr6vGyr8yVCoxg5vVfzR8Xob5NY87aeTHklJ46JBWm8/s400/Maple+Syrup+5.JPG" /></a>We had an entire day free yesterday, so we took a little sightseeing trip. It was beautiful out, but the temperature was still in the low 20’s, not counting the wind chill. We went to Midland, which is right about in the “middle of the mitten”. (Hold up your right hand, palm facing you, then consider how much Michigan looks like a mitten, and you will get it.) Midland is the home of Dow Chemical Company, founded many years ago by a young Mr. Dow who the locals considered to be somewhat crazy as he conducted some curious chemistry experiments. Guess he was offbeat kind of like Bill Gates and his crazy PC’s as Dow is a worldwide producer of chemical compounds. They seem to take very good care of the hometown... most of the local attractions (Museums, Art Galleries, public gardens, etc. seem to have the word “Dow” in their name. </div><br /><div>Among the attractions is the (locally) famous “Tridge”, a well done three way foot bridge that spans the confluence of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers and which then flow into Saginaw Bay, on Lake Huron. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jwg3CeD0AdyDpJnxu4A3ZjWdID6khZ4Xqo7EOb2gEUmIEUM3zcozk2FcDhCtDVSs0N1nYyrKqe-5cQeyfypggOFZSvDTYj2oETl9jG9sBD-LDy-7mic9HU6aacCPBXH3bLCAnZvalOYy/s1600/Midland+20110326+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588848098043094482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jwg3CeD0AdyDpJnxu4A3ZjWdID6khZ4Xqo7EOb2gEUmIEUM3zcozk2FcDhCtDVSs0N1nYyrKqe-5cQeyfypggOFZSvDTYj2oETl9jG9sBD-LDy-7mic9HU6aacCPBXH3bLCAnZvalOYy/s400/Midland+20110326+005.JPG" /></a> After leaving Midland, we headed for Bay City, on Saginaw Bay to see the Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse. It turns out that it is completely inaccessible to the public, so we finally – after an hour or so of looking – gave up on it. But here’s a picture from the “Lighthouse Friends” website so you (and we) can remember what we missed. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwpWAvwrleDHAAHicMZrnfOq_4cez0gzqwi8ChWj_1hKJzN0mf4_H-z-GAw5GWlC6WlkNg-j9v0WFnVuxT9RAlp5faxqb-4kAWjQQRrHZ_NQ3YA18scHDaJ5k5qG28pVvEU4velMqjiK8/s1600/huron21.jpeg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588847898691900530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwpWAvwrleDHAAHicMZrnfOq_4cez0gzqwi8ChWj_1hKJzN0mf4_H-z-GAw5GWlC6WlkNg-j9v0WFnVuxT9RAlp5faxqb-4kAWjQQRrHZ_NQ3YA18scHDaJ5k5qG28pVvEU4velMqjiK8/s400/huron21.jpeg" /></a> <br /><div></div></div></div></div>Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05305702471554340284noreply@blogger.com0